On Friday morning, Anderson Valley Junior-Senior High in Boonville held a groundbreaking ceremony to begin construction on the Anderson Valley Track to Health and Fitness project.
The $4.7 million project is part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative. This large-scale, $1.2 billion effort by Caltrans aims to clean up trash, create jobs, and beautify public spaces across the state.
The new facility will include a grass field for soccer and football and an all-weather running track. It will be open to both students and community members, offering new fitness and recreation opportunities in Boonville. This project is especially important because there are no gyms or workout centers within 20 miles.
At the heart of the project is a modern six-lane running track with a rubberized surface suitable for track and field events and general exercise. The track will be available before and after school, on weekends, and during the summer.
“This project is a major investment in our school and community,” said Anderson Valley Unified School District Superintendent Kristin Larson Balliet. “It will create a space that encourages health, recreation, and school pride. We are very thankful to Caltrans for supporting accessible outdoor facilities and helping bring this project to life.”
The improvements will offer a safe, welcoming place for students, including those from low-income families, to join sports teams and local soccer leagues. The space aims to support everyone’s health and fitness goals.
Caltrans District 1 Director Matthew Brady added, “Partnering with Anderson Valley Unified School District shows our dedication to improving life quality in communities throughout the region. This new athletic facility will be a central spot for Boonville residents and students to enjoy outdoor activities.”
Representatives from the school district, Caltrans, and Rege Construction joined students and staff at the ceremony. Construction is expected to finish by spring 2026.
Since July 2021, Caltrans’ Clean California initiative has funded 319 projects statewide. These projects improve parks, neighborhoods, transit centers, trails, roadsides, recreation fields, and culturally significant places, especially in underserved areas. The initiative has removed over 2.9 million cubic yards of litter—enough to fill nine lanes of Interstate 5 from the Mexican border to Oregon. It also hosted over 650 free dump days, collecting more than 15,500 mattresses and 57,000 tires. More than 72,000 volunteers have helped clean up, and thousands of jobs have been created, including for people who were formerly incarcerated or facing housing insecurity.
