The athletic fields at Diamond Ranch high school may be a construction zones now but by August it will be the site of football games and the platforms for students to showcase their talents.

Last week, the Pomona Unified School District held ground-breaking ceremonies for what will be modest but much-improved athletic facilities at Diamond Ranch, Garey and Pomona high schools.

Each facility will be improved in two phases. As part of the first phase of work, the schools will have improved fields, tracks, lighting, scoreboards and seating by the fall. Restrooms and snack bars will be added by fall 2014.

The total budget for the fields is $16 million, said Leslie Barnes, Pomona Unified’s assistant superintendent for business services and chief financial officer.

Board President Roberta Perlman said the three construction projects will represent a bit of an inconvenience as the current academic year wraps up, but many people in and outside of the schools are looking forward to the improvements.

“There was so much excitement from parents and community members,” Perlman said of the ceremonies.

Perlman said she has told students that the fields are a way of showing them they are valued by the district and the community.

The improvements to the fields will be made using revenue from the 2008 voter-approved Measure PS.

Revenue from the bond measure must be used for school facilities including replacing out-dated infrastructure.