ADAMS TWP — Two significant sports upgrades were approved Tuesday night by the Mars School Board.

A new multipurpose field will be built on district property at the intersection of Three Degree Road and Doc’s Way, and the turf at the Mars Athletic Complex will be replaced.

The projects, which will cost $1.5 million, came in about $200,000 under original estimates, said construction manager John Hays of Thomas and Williamson.

Superintendent Wesley Shipley said the rectangular multipurpose field will have the dimensions of a full-size soccer field.

District football, soccer and lacrosse players; the marching band; and others will use the new field for practice and some games, Shipley said.

Hays said land is available for future expansion to include restrooms, a concession stand and a field house.

At the athletic complex behind the middle school, the 10-year-old artificial turf will be replaced. New lettering in the end zones is included in the project.

The track around the field will not be replaced.

Shipley said construction on the new field could be complete by the end of May, and work on the artificial turf replacement project is scheduled to begin after the end of the school year.