Westmont to Dedicate New Observatory, Fields

Westmont President Gayle D. Beebe and the Board of Trustees will dedicate the college’s new observatory and athletic facilities at a free, public event Thursday, May 6, at 10:30 a.m. outside the observatory. The dedication will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the observatory, Thorrington Field, Russ Carr Field and the track.

The new observatory, tucked between Carr Field and the track along the new campus road, houses the powerful Keck Telescope, which is available for public viewings every third Friday of the month.

Carr Field is now a baseball-only facility that includes two bull pens and two batting cages, new dugouts, a batter’s eye, a scoreboard, a covered press area and easy access for fans.

The track and field complex, which features a state-of-the-art synthetic running surface, restrooms, a scorer’s area and tiered, landscaped seating, hosted the GSAC Championship April 23-24. The complex includes Thorrington Field, where the men’s and women’s soccer teams will play.

Construction continues on the Adams Center for the Visual Arts and Winter Hall, which are expected to be complete by the end of the year. The college kicked off its Bright Hope for Tomorrow campaign in Santa Barbara April 10, beginning a nationwide tour to raise $40 million to finish funding the essential facilities under construction.