Two weeks after breaking ground on a new track in North Delta, officials from the City of Delta, Delta School District and provincial government came together once again Monday morning to celebrate the grand opening of the new track and infield at Delta Secondary School.
Alongside students from the high school and nearby Ladner elementaries, Delta's mayor, councillors and school trustees were joined by Surrey-City Centre MLA Amna Shah, Delta South MLA Ian Paton and representatives from Tsawwassen First Nation, to officially mark the completion of the year-long construction process, the final phase of which included installation of the new synthetic running surface.
In the spirit of “hitting the ground running,” the students participated in a baton relay on the newly-installed surface to display the track in full use and "symbolize the handing down of the new track to future generations," according to a city press release.
“This beautiful new track and field is a wonderful amenity for both the school and public. By updating and maintaining these essential community spaces, we provide important resources for everyone to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. We are grateful to help establish another high-quality facility that can be used for decades to come," Mayor George Harvie said in a press release, before thanking the Delta School District and the province of BC for their partnership on the "critical project.”
"We’re thrilled to have this new track at Delta Secondary. This isn’t just an upgrade to a facility, it’s a powerful investment in the health, well-being and future of our youth. We know how vital physical activity is for both body and mind, and this new space will inspire movement, connection and community pride," school board chair Joe Muego said in the release. "A heartfelt thank you to the province and the City of Delta for making this vision a reality — not just for our students, but for the entire Delta community.”
B.C.'s Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs contributed $5 million through its Growing Communities Fund to pay for the track’s upgrades.
“Investments in amenities like these support our vibrant, growing community as we build more housing for people in Delta. Whether it's elite athletics or general health and wellness, people will have more opportunities to stay active and get outdoors,” Housing Minister and MLA for Delta North Ravi Kahlon said in the press release.
Work began on track and field reconstruction in June 2024, with a temporary asphalt track available for public use through the winter. Installation of the synthetic running surface resumed at the beginning of April and was completed at the end of May.
Throughout the installation period, the newly-laid sod infield was closed, giving the grass an opportunity to fully establish itself and ensuring its endurance for usage year-round.
Along with the new grass infield sized for soccer and rugby and the six-lane synthetic surface running track, the facility also features new combination rugby and soccer goals, two long jump runways and pits configured to facilitate para-athletes, a new irrigation and drainage system, perimeter lighting, and a hard-surface pedestrian connection to Memorial Park from 45th Avenue.
Monday's ceremony marks completion of the third of four track upgrade projects undertaken in partnership between the city and school district.
South Delta Secondary's track was resurfaced in 2018, and the natural turf infield is to be upgraded this summer using $1.5 million from the Growing Communities Fund.
North Delta Secondary's old track was replaced with a World Athletics-compliant facility (the first of its kind in Delta) and officially opened in August of 2021. The $8-million project was a collaborative effort between the city, school district, and provincial and federal governments, with the city receiving more than $5.8 million ($3.2 million in federal funding and $2.66 million in provincial funding) through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, as well as $2.13 million in other applicant funding.
On May 21, officials broke ground on a new track and infield at North Delta's Seaquam Secondary. That project is receiving $4 million through the province's Growing Communities Fund.
The city and school district also partnered to bring a second artificial turf field to Mackie Park in North Delta. Officials broke ground on that project in May of last year, and construction began in August.
The $5-million project, which is also being paid for through a Growing Communities Fund grant, was expected to be complete by March of this year, and though it looked to be largely finished, work was still underway at the fenced-off site on Tuesday afternoon (June 3).
In an email to the Reporter Wednesday afternoon (June 4), a representative from the city said the timeline for the official opening of the field has been adjusted "due to inclement weather last fall and delays in the availability of building supplies."
"As a result, we anticipate the official opening of the new field to happen this fall."
