Cougar Construction Starts

As all Albany High athletes are aware, Cougar Field is under construction. In order to repair the ancient facilities, the Albany School District allocated funds last year for a renovation. The construction will include a new track, a field turf soccer/football field, a new baseball field, and a new field house.

Although the changes are welcomed by the athletes, the construction process is also a hindrance because the teams are unable to have home games. According to Dr. William Wong, superintendent of the Albany School District, Albany High’s athletes have a long wait ahead of them; Cougar Field will not be ready until the end of April 2008 – halfway through the track and field and baseball seasons.

This is a disappointment for many of the school’s athletes, especially the senior members of the soccer teams, who had been hoping to end their last years as Cougars on their homefield. But even members of the spring sports teams have reason to be worried, as the tentative date is subject to inclement weather and current legal action taken by the City of El Cerrito and the Behran’s Neighborhood Association.

The two parties filed lawsuits last July over the hotly-debated terms of use for Cougar Field. The litigants allege that they will be damaged by the Cougar Field renovations and cite noise and light pollution as their claims. The lawsuits have the potential to delay construction on Cougar Field, and if they are successful could result in the elimination of some portions of the project by court order.

The Albany School District has negotiated what it sees as reasonable operating hours that satisfy both the AHS sports teams and the residents of El Cerrito. Under the current plan, the lights will operate until 9:30pm for ten home football games per season and 8:00pm for all home soccer games; night games can only comprise half of each team’s total schedule. Unfortunately, under the current scheme, track and field and baseball are not allowed to use the lights for their events.

Despite these diplomatic terms, the City of El Cerrito and the Behran’s Neighborhood Association are moving ahead with their lawsuits. According to Charlie Blanchard, president of the Albany School Board, “the District believes that it has a very strong case, but it remains willing to discuss a settlement that preserves the objectives of the modernization project.”