Since the return of prep sports, the Ripon Unified School District has needed extra space around town to accommodate the various sports programs.

“We’ve had to really spread them out,” Superintendent Ziggy Robeson at Monday’s school board meeting.

The Ripon High football program, she noted, has been using nearby Ripon Elementary School as its practice facility.

The City of Ripon gave the OK for the RHS for use of the facilities at the Ripon Community Center, Mavis Stouffer Park, and the Mistlin Sports Park.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the district has experienced a greater need for fields and facilities to accommodate their school sports program,” said Recreation Director Kye Stevens.

As a result, RUSD entered into an agreement – specifically known a Memorandum of Understanding – with the City regarding reciprocal facility use back in January.

An influx of sports is scheduled coming this month and the next with the expanded schedule consisting of football, basketball, baseball, softball, golf, volleyball and water polo, to name a few. Some of that could be subject to change depending on the California Department of Public Health’s updated guidelines – protocols in place call for regular periodic COVID-19 testing of student athletes and support staff.

Under the updated MOU, RHS will be allowed a limited number of practices and games for soccer at the Mistlin Sports Complex.

The cross-country team has been using Stouffer Park for practices and hosting meets, as needed. Ditto for soccer teams also holding practices and games at Stouffer.

RHS tennis and softball programs will call the Community Center their home for this year.

The City’s Parks and Recreation Department, in turn, will have use of the RHS gym and the multi-purpose buildings at the elementary school sites, as well as the outdoor facilities at the respective sites, for recreation programs and activities.