All-turf sports complex expected finish date in December
Norwalk High’s new stadium is anticipated to be ready by year’s end. (Photo by Keith Durflinger).
NORWALK - Norwalk High School, founded in 1956, will be the home of a new stadium and sports complex later this year.
The project is beginning to take shape with field buildings coming out of the ground, light standards in place and even the football scoreboard is standing in the north end zone.
The project is a funding that was passed by Norwalk residents in a 2014 vote and is a $375 million Education Bond Measure.
The Norwalk high Sports Complex, which began in October of 2019, is expected to be completed in late December of this year or early January of 2021. It will consist of a new stadium, baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts and a field house and concession stand.
“I am ecstatic about the construction of the new stadium at Norwalk high and the new athletic fields,” Norwalk-La Mirada Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hasmik Danielian said. “The students deserve this state of the art facility and have been very patient for all of these years.
“I also applaud the taxpayers vision for the passing of this bond and the support from the Board of Education.”
Last year, John Glenn high finished a new sports complex, also under the Measure G Bond.
“It’s going to be really great for the students and what a great opportunity for the school for many, many years to come,” Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Facilities Planning and Construction Director Edith Florence said. “It will be an all-turf facility.”
In addition, the baseball and softball fields will have lights.
Along with Director Florence, Facilities Coordinator Lorenzo Kohn will also oversee the project.
AWI Builders, Inc. is the General Contractor and the Construction Manager is the Cumming Corporation.
“I’m excited and very happy for the kids,” said Norwalk Athletic Director David Snyder, who is an alumnus of the school. “I go by there about once a week.
“Before school was stopped in March, the students were watching the progress from the beginning and were excited.
“The excitement has kind of been pushed back because of no school now. It’s kind of taken away from the glory of the new stadium”
A huge factor for all of the teams that will use the facility is the real “home game” feel.
“I’m looking forward to not having to transport all the athletes to other facilities for ‘home games,’” Snyder added. “It will be nice to have home games. It’s going to be sweet.”
Snyder, who played both baseball and football at Norwalk and like all of the past players played their “home games” at Excelsior high.
“The prospect of home games is exciting for the players and not having to get on a bus,” said Snyder, who was an offensive lineman, center and tackle. “I remember having to ride the bus to our home games. I love the game.”
One promise Snyder has to fulfill is having former principal Mike Garcia at the first home game. Garcia recently moved on to a Norwalk-La Mirada School District position.
“He made me promise to have him at the opening of the new stadium.”
Snyder begins his fifth year as the AD in the 2020-21 school year.
Perhaps the most excited person regarding the new stadium is second-year football coach Dean Gray.
“It’s fantastic,” said Gray, who was born in Norwalk and has been at the school for 31 years. “How thankful I am for the parents and for the school board. I am so thankful for the community for passing the bond and all the years of waiting for the stadium for this city.
“It opens up so many opportunities for the softball and baseball programs and soccer and tennis for all levels. To see the lights go up and the progress as I drive around the school is great. I have the greatest job in the world to coach here.”
Gray’s excitement boils over to his players too.
“The kids are excited and when they were in school they saw the construction and got excited as it goes up.”
To date, there still is no decision on a start date for football and the other Fall sports.
However, one possibility being talked about is a late December or early January start for football.
“There is that possibility that could happen with the opening of the season in our new stadium,” Gray said. “There’s a lot of great things with the new stadium, but we want to make sure the kids are safe.
As Snyder mentioned, Gray was elated for no more away “home” games.
“It’s great for us to not have to get on a bus.”
If the season does start in the early Fall as usual, they would have a few more away “home games.”
“I’m also excited for all of our sports and their new fields.
Included in one of those new fields is baseball and coach Bill Wenrick.
“This field is just unbelievable,” said Wenrick, who was a pitcher on the 1982 CIF Champion at Norwalk. “I’m truly excited and Norwalk is a baseball town. To have these facilities is great. I never thought I’d see the day.”
Wenrick, along with softball coach David Gonzalez is also thinking about the advantages of the lights at the fields.
“I can run camps at night and so forth,” added Wenrick, who is entering his sixth year as coach next season. “It’s a beautiful thing. It’s just going to be good for the whole city, including the little leaguers. It will help big time.”
Gonzalez, who is in his third year as Norwalk's softball coach, knows the value of playing under the lights.
“It’s so exciting,” Gonzalez said. “One thing in football is playing under the lights and I’m so looking forward to it on the softball field.”
Gonzalez, who is also an assistant high school football coach, knows the value of a home field. “This is an actual sports-specific facility at home. There’s nothing like playing at home.”
Most of his players are beyond excited for their first practice on the new field.
“They are super excited and I get texts every time a light pole goes up,” Gonzalez said.
Just in the last week, all of the light poles have risen on the fields.
“This is something they can call their own and it's like Christmas for the kids for the new field.
In fact, it could be just about Christmas when they actually step on their new field.