RIPON (CALIFORNIA) WORKS TOWARD FIELD TURF

Ripon, Wisconsin has had field turf for a year. Ripon, California continues to work toward raising the money to install turf on their football field. Their group - the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation - has been working since 2007. Their mission statement reads:

We are a group of caring citizens like you.Our mission is to help athletes, students and Ripon's community to realize their full potential through athletics and physical activity.The initial way we plan to fulfill our mission is to replace, as soon as possible, Ripon High School's track and football field with an all-weather track and synthetic athletic field which would accommodate both soccer and football.

We will support replacement and expansion of existing non-ADA compliant bleachers to accommodate a growing population. New ADA compliant bathrooms and sidewalks will also be part of the plans.Unchanged for many years, R.H.S.'s track and field is in need of replacement. It is our goal to bring Ripon Athletic programs into the 21st century. This facility will encourage students along with the community to build healthy lifestyles and prepare them for lifelong physical fitness.We can only do this with your help.

If you look at pictures of their existing field, it looks a lot like Ingalls Field prior to the recent renovations. The Ripon Community Athletic Foundation has to raise a bit more than we did in Ripon - $2 million for the track and to replace the football field with synthetic turf. Here is wishing them best of luck in their fundraising efforts in 2009. Their next big event is in May - Rina's Run, Saturday, May 9. The 2nd Annual Rina's Run is a 10K Run or 5K walk or run through Ripon neighborhoods, which will money for the Stouffer Field Revitalization bringing a synthetic turf field and allweather track to Ripon High School.