Ballard High at long last is getting its very own multi-purpose synthetic turf field.

The Seattle School District and D.A. Hogan Architects, presented plans for the new multi-purpose field last week. The field is part of the Building Technology and Academics Levy passed by voters in 2004.

The project will cost $1.1 million and construction will begin in May 2008 with completion in the fall when that school year begins.

Plans call for a running track, surrounding a synthetic turf field that can accommodate football and soccer games, as well as track and field events.

A six-lane 400-meter running track will feature a rubberized surface with finish lines for 400 meter, 110 and 100 meter races. A standard size track consists of eight lanes.

Portions of the field will be designed for long jump, triple jump, high jump, discus and pole vaulting events.

The field can also accommodate the sport of lacrosse. Ballard students interested in lacrosse are now playing with the Roosevelt High School team.

"We have quite a few kids going to Roosevelt now. We could put together a team of our own in the future," said Ballard Principal Phil Brockman.

With a new field, the school will save money on travel expenses. The track and field team takes a bus to Ingraham to practice.

The boys and girls soccer teams must go the Queen Anne Bowl west of Seattle Pacific University. Soccer players carpool or are dropped off for practice by parents. Home games are played at Memorial Stadium.

Last spring, the baseball team stopped playing their games at Ballard High because the field was too small and players risked injuries. The team moved its games to Soundview Park and Lower Woodland Park.

The new field will be a welcome change for the sports teams. The old field as it is now, is muddy and all torn up, said Brockman.

Eric Gold is a landscape architect for D.A. Hogan a firm that specializes sports field designs and worked on the Salmon Bay Athletic Field at Salmon Bay School.

Gold said the existing baseball fencing will be removed. A bleacher with a seating capacity of 135 people and a second bleacher holding 45 people will be located on the western side of the field. Another area of the field will be available for sports fans who want to bring their own chairs.

"We looked at a facility with limited spectator seating on the school side," said Gold.

With only a running track next to the alley between the field and nearby homes, noise will be minimized at the east end of the field. In the past neighbors had complained about baseballs landing in their yards and hitting their cars. Although the meeting was meant to solicit public input, no one from the surrounding community attended the meeting.

The school will not be able to host full-scale track and field events due to parking restrictions. At the most, two teams would be allowed to compete against one another. Most KingCo meets feature three or more teams.

There will be several entrances, including access for the disabled and vehicles.

Brockman will seek the support of the Ballard High School Foundation in funding a strength training facility on the field to replace the small weight room in the school's basement.

The old weight room could be converted into a classroom or be turned over to the wrestling team, which now practices in the Commons.

Members of the public would be allowed to use the facility outside of school hours. All school fields in the city are open to outside use.

"It will support what we do well and we will have a field close to us," said Brockman.

Dean Wong may be reached at 783.1244 or dino@robinsonnews.com