Fields and Grounds Projects are Underway, As Well As Phase 2 Planning and Design!

If you’ve recently driven past Oregon City High School or Pioneer Stadium, you might have noticed the fields dotted with orange flags, indicating work already happening on our fields and grounds projects. We’re excited to share that our first round of bond-funded projects is officially underway!

You may be asking yourself:

“Why are the fields and grounds projects starting before work on the school buildings?”

It’s a great question—and the answer comes down to timelines and complexity.

• Fast-Track Projects

  • Fields and grounds improvements—like upgrading athletic fields, improving drainage, or revitalizing outdoor spaces—are typically faster to plan and execute. These projects can begin shortly after bond approval because they require less design time and fewer regulatory steps. We also want to take advantage of the dry summer season!

• School Building Planning

  • In contrast, updating or building school facilities is a much more involved process. Our team is currently working hard behind the scenes on the design and planning phases for these larger, more complex projects. This includes everything from architectural work and permitting to making sure each building meets the future needs of our community. Work is being done, it’s just not as visible as the fields and grounds projects, yet!

The great news?

While the fields and grounds work is moving forward, our planning and design teams are simultaneously working on the school facility projects. So, even though you may not see construction on buildings just yet, the process is very much in motion.

What’s Next?

• The Citizen Bond Oversight Committee will hold it’s first meeting on Monday, March 31.

• District staff, architects, and project engineers began meeting weekly to move forward on planning and design for phase two projects. These projects will include improvements at three elementary schools, Holcomb, Candy Lane and John McLoughlin,

• District staff, architects, projects engineers, and other consultants continue to meet weekly to continue to move forward on the progress of phase one projects that include, but are not limited to, improvements of fields and grounds at OCHS.