The Ripon Community Athletic Foundation and the Ripon High Boosters are combining forces for a good cause.
They’re looking to raise money to do a matching fund with the Ripon Unified School District on making possible new restrooms for the renovated Ripon High football stadium.
At Monday’s school board meeting, Shari Hernandez, who is president of the RHS Boosters, noted that she and RCAF president Stephanie Hobbs are looking to match the district’s $50,000 from the additional budget allocation to go towards the new, ADA-compliant restrooms planned for the entrance of Stouffer Field.
According to Hernandez, those who donate to this effort would receive further recognition by having their names posted in the Ripon Community Discount Book, which is the Boosters’ annual fundraiser.
She wanted to do her part after seeing all the improvements to the stadium in recent years.
Hobbs, meanwhile, said that proceeds from Rina’s Run – this ninth annual event features a 5K, 10K and half marathon – planned for next month would go towards this effort.
“The (restroom) project would go next to the existing ticket booth,” she said, indicating that the old restrooms adjacent to the junior varsity baseball field could be converted for storage.
Plans thus far call for the exterior of the restroom project to have the “mission-style” look, mimicking the old RHS structure.
RCAF has been concerned about the restrooms and bleachers.
The wheels are already in motion for the home bleachers to be replaced.
In January, the board approved funding for the bleachers from $3.1 million in one-time money for various projects, utilizing carryover and unrestricted and ending fund balances.
New football stadium bleachers were among the items on the prioritized needs list on this budget revision along with restroom repairs at Ripon Elementary School and Ripona Elementary School and the scoreboard installation at the Ripon High baseball field, to name a few.