Construction began earlier this month on the new synthetic turf field at Mackie Park.

The $5-million project was announced last June and is expected to be complete by March of 2025.

According to a city press release marking the official ground breaking in May, the project 鈥渞epresents another significant stride towards enhancing recreational facilities and meeting the growing demand for sports infrastructure in our community.鈥�

鈥淭his new turf field at Mackie Park is a great addition to our community amenities. With the addition of the new track at North Delta [Secondary] School, cricket pitch at Delview Park and this new turf field, we are creating excellent opportunities for our future generations,鈥� Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon said at the time.

The turf will replace the gravel field behind Gray Elementary with a full-size soccer pitch overlaid with markings for American-rules football. Key components of the project include LED field lighting, perimeter fencing and walkway, bleachers, a below-grade drainage system and new field equipment.

The project is being funded using a BC Growing Communities Fund grant received in March of 2023.

鈥淭ogether with the province鈥檚 funding support, this new turf field at Mackie Park signifies our commitment to providing quality recreational spaces for our community. It ensures that athletes of all ages have access to top-tier facilities right here in Delta,鈥� Mayor George Harvie said in a statement to mark May's ground breaking.

鈥淲e are grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Delta School District to provide much-needed infrastructure that will meet the demand of our residents right across the city for years to come.鈥�

The new field is being built as a partnership between the City of Delta and the Delta School District, similar to how the two collaborated on construction of the new track and field facility at North Delta Secondary.

A land agreement between the city and district, approved by council earlier this month, enabled the city to expand the footprint of the existing gravel field by exchanging a 73-square-metre piece of Mackie Park next to Sands Secondary and a 1,956-square-metre strip of Hellings Park by Hellings Elementary for a 2,029-square-metre parcel of school district-owned land adjacent to the field and Gray Elementary.

鈥淥n behalf of the Delta board of education, I鈥檇 like to express our heartfelt thanks to the province and the City of Delta for their continued investment in our community,鈥� school board chair Val Windsor said in May's press release.

鈥淗aving such excellent access to the freedom and space that Mackie Park provides encourages students to get outside and be active. This is so important for physical health and mental well-being, both of which play a key role in supporting students鈥� learning.鈥�

Site preparation began on March 18, with crews removing 25 trees in the area where the new synthetic turf field is being built prior to bird nesting season.

An earlier press release from the city said the removal of these trees was being done in compliance with Delta鈥檚 Tree Protection and Regulation Bylaw, noting 59 replacement trees will be planted in new locations to mitigate the loss as part of the city鈥檚 2024-25 Urban Reforestation Program.

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