Riverside Schools Seeing Improvements
Several athletic facilities are getting some much-needed overhauls
By John Murphy /
The Press-Enterprise
RIVERSIDE - Midday at Riverside Ramona High School and the soundtrack is a cacophony of hammers hammering, drills drilling and earth-movers moving.
The athletic facilities at the 51-year-old school are getting a major overhaul and time is running short.
Inside the office of Neff Construction manager Ron Eder's makeshift office trailer last Friday was a scrawling that read, "This is where it gets done right the first time. Ten weeks left to first game. Fifty-one days to D Day."
"D-Day" is now closer at hand for all five comprehensive public high schools of the Riverside Unified School District, but none more so than at Ramona, where the largest amount of work is being done.
The improvements are largely being funded by left-over money from Measure B, the district's school revitalization program that was approved by 68.3 percent of the voters in 2001.
Ramona's stadium project is also being financed by the City of Riverside, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Community Development Block Grant program.
"The district recognized that a lot of facilities were out-dated," Ramona athletic director John Tibbels said. "The board did a good job of identifying the priorities."
The football opener is Sept. 10 vs. Riverside Poly.
Here is a rundown of what is being done and where:
RAMONA
Ramona's football stadium is being totally refurbished, with the home bleachers now becoming the visitors' side and new home bleachers being built where the visitors' side was. A new press box with an elevator is also being built and a new (AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ MT) synthetic turf and running track are being installed. Also going up is a new ticket counter, a snack bar and a team room.
"All of the high schools are getting synthetic turf and all-weather tracks," said Kirk Lewis, the RUSD's assistant superintendent of operations. "With the synthetic turfs, you don't have to worry about taking down the fields and rehabbing them. They can be used all year long."
Ramona athletics was thrown into a tizzy for a good part of last year, with teams forced to train at nearby Don Jones Park or similar makeshift practice venues. But soon everything in Ramland will be top-notch.
It won't just be the Rams benefiting from Ramona's improvements. Youth football will soon be played at the high school's refurbished stadium.
Other improvements at Ramona:
Replacement of the 25-meter pool, including decking and bleachers.
Refinishing existing tennis courts and realigning them.
An upgrade of baseball and softball venues and soccer practice area.
Installation of a new irrigation system.
ARLINGTON
Bill Grisham has replaced the retired Jack Harrison as the Arlington athletic director, and Grisham is delighted with the improvements in store for the Lions.
"It's great," Grisham said. "It's going to be awesome. Our fields are rundown. Nothing (of significance) has been done for 30-plus years here, so it's an exciting time."
Work will begin in October 2011, with a completion date of March 2013 set.
Other improvements at Arlington:
The former agricultural area (6 ½ acres) will be added to the field space, which is currently 17.7 acres.
Installation of synthetic turf on the football field and an all-weather track.
New practice-grade lighting and bleachers (750 capacity).
Concession stand and restroom building.
Re-aligning and refinishing existing tennis courts.
KING
At King, there has been difficulty getting the proper aggregate soil under the (AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ MT) synthetic turf.
"It was stalled for a few months," Wolves athletic director Tony Masi said. "They weren't getting the right mixture. It has to meet certain specifications."
Things were eventually squared away, and King's new (AstroTurf® GameDay Grass™ MT) turf will soon be installed.
Other improvements for the Wolves:
Installation of an all-weather track.
Addressing equity of baseball and softball improvements.
Complete dugouts.
Renovation of athletic fields, including drainage.
NORTH
The focal point at North will be the track, where the Huskies will have the district's only nine-lane oval. This will make it ideal for league meets.
Other upgrades at North:
Replacing 25-meter pool, including deck lighting and bleachers.
Installing synthetic turf on football field, building 1,000-seat bleachers and erecting concession stand and restroom building. Practice-grade lighting.
Refinishing existing tennis courts and adding two courts.
POLY
The significant facelift to the Poly athletic venues is a first.
"It's a positive not only for our athletes and coaches, but the entire community," Bears athletic director Bob Ritzau said. "There have been no major changes at Poly in a very long time."
Perhaps the most impressive part of Poly's upgrades will be the new aquatic center that will include a 50-meter pool, spectator seating for 500, restroom and locker rooms, ticket booth and concession stand.
Poly has long been an aquatics power.
Other improvements:
Installation of synthetic turf and all-weather track.
Refinishing existing tennis courts and adding two tennis courts.
Addressing equity of baseball and softball venues, including addition of a softball team room and a junior varsity softball field.
Renovation of athletic fields.