One of Santa Clara Unified School District’s (SCUSD) athletic fields will likely get a big overhaul thanks to a philanthropic donation from the San Francisco 49ers.
At its June 12 meeting, the SCUSD Board of Trustees gave the go-ahead for district employees to move forward with the effort.
Michal Healy, facility development and planning director, told the board that the district has known that Townsend Field, located at Buchser Middle School, 1111 Bellomy St., needed upgrades for a while.
So, when the 49ers Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the team, in partnership with the Bay Area Host Committee (BAHC), decided it would build or rehabilitate nine fields — one in each of the Bay Area’s counties — the stars aligned.
“To say that we are excited is a little bit of an understatement,” Healy said.
The rehab is part of the 49ers Foundation and BAHC’s effort to put Santa Clara in the best light leading up to the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup games set to be held at Levi’s Stadium next year.
The improvements to the field would include installation of synthetic grass — that could also be used for field hockey and soccer — and a track. The phased approach would also allow for much-needed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements to the site.
As part of the cost-sharing, the district would have to bear “soft costs” associated with the upgrade. Details as to what constitutes a “soft cost” and how much they would amount to were not available at the meeting, something that gave many trustees pause.
Justin Prettyman, executive director of the 49ers Foundation, said the facelift will provide a “safe and sustainable playing field for years to come.” He called it a “give back” to “generations of upcoming students.”
Although many trustees said they wanted to get a better look at the financial details, most of them lauded the potential.
Trustee Kathy Watanabe, who frequently butted heads with the team during her tenure on the Santa Clara City Council, had a slew of questions.
She inquired whether district employees knew the impact on adjacent fields and the operations of the Santa Clara Lions, who use the field. She also challenged the choice to install synthetic grass, citing environmental impacts.
“Gosh, why does it seem like everywhere I go, the 49ers seem to follow me?” she said. “There is a lot of concern about health issues … Levi’s Stadium doesn’t use synthetic turf, so why are we using it here?”
Healy responded to Watanabe’s questions simply: “We don’t know yet.” District employees sought direction from the board as to whether to proceed with the project, so many details have yet to be ironed out and remain vague.
Watanabe emphasized ensuring that “full-disclosures” of “all the interests” was available before the district committed to anything.
Capital facilities money would fund any district costs, with no impact on the general fund.
With the improvements, Healy said SCUSD may be able to rent the field more often, bringing in revenue.
Justin Ponzio, principal at Buchser Middle School, called Townsend Field “the largest classroom we have on campus.”
“Having it updated will just provide more opportunity for our students,” he said.
The board unanimously approved giving the green light to pursuing the project, authorizing district employees to spend up to $50,000 over the summer to hire an architect.
Work on the field is estimated to start in spring 2026, with completion in September 2026.
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
