RIPON — Friday night will be a milestone for the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation.

That’s when those attending the Ripon High football game against visiting Linden will see the majority of Phase 1 of the Stouffer Field Revitalization Project.

The crowning achievement thus far will be the new scoreboard donated to RCAF by Pacific, Gas and Electric. It isvisible from Highway 99.

“I can’t wait to see it with the lights on,” said RCAF president Stephanie Hobbs.

The LED screen was put in place on Tuesday in time for the weekend. Besides Ripon High, Ripon Christian will use the stadium on Saturday against Jim Elliot Christian.

The PG&E crew had the scoreboard in place since last Friday. Hobbs indicated that work – included will be concrete, asphalt and fencing – should be completed before the home opener.

She noted that folks will also notice newly installed sidewalks from the ticket booth to the home bleachers along with fencing around the outer track.

“The field was over-seeded with rye,” Hobbs added. “It will be dormant in the winter.”

Workers have been spending 16-hour days on the field throughout the summer. They’ll continue to do so after the weekend.

 A cleanup crew is scheduled for tonight to get things ready for the opener.

Hobbs said a dedication ceremony is planned prior to the varsity game on Friday or about 7:10 p.m. At that time, PG&E officials will also be on hand for the presentation.

RCAF was started in 2007 as a grass-root effort to restore and update the 70-year-old facility. The group held fundraisers and received numerous donations in order to get the work started.

Along with football – the youth football Ripon Chiefs also call Stouffer Field home – some of the local soccer teams will play there.

Since breaking ground in December, RCAF has managed to relocate the field house; demolish the entire track and field while installing a shot put / discus venue; slide back and stabilize the visitor-side bleachers; increase the track to regulation length; and install a new irrigation system for the playing surface.

For more information, call Hobbs at 209-599-6861, log on to www.rcafsite.com, or click on to Ripon Community Athletic Foundation on Facebook for the recent updates.