Top Ten Inquiries Regarding the Proposed Field Improvements

at Rio Americano High School (RAHS)

(click here for this document in PDF format)

Question #1: Why are the proposed improvements to Rio Americano High School’s east sporting fields necessary?

The existing outdoor sporting facilities at RAHS have undergone minimal upgrades since the school’s inception in 1963.  The fact that the original design did not allow for efficient utilization of the space or provide properly oriented Varsity playing fields has always been an issue within the RAHS athletic community.  Over the years, the combination of minimal upkeep and maintenance by the district due to budget constraints and heavy year-round use by the football, baseball, softball, soccer, rugby, tennis and track & field programs has left the fields in dire need of attention.  The condition of the fields is no longer adequate for the school’s athletic programs, and the athletic programs have suffered as a result.  Moreover, the school community receives constant complaints from visitors and passers-by that the fields are an eye-sore to the neighborhood.  Although there have been several unsuccessful attempts to renovate the fields over the years, current safety concerns, practical use issues and the overall aesthetic deterioration of the space merit immediate rectification of the situation.

Question #2: What organization is behind the proposed design changes to Rio Americano High School’s east sporting fields?

Historically, athletic booster clubs have addressed the sporting concerns on public high school campuses.  However, due to district-wide budget cuts, the RAHS sports program is minimally funded and the primary function of the booster club has been to raise the necessary dollars to cover the coaches’ stipends that enable our public high school athletic programs to continue.  To alleviate the financial burden imposed upon the RAHS booster club and the SJUSD, a group of parents, alumni and concerned community professionals have formed a not-for-profit corporation called the American River Sports Association (ARSA).  The expressed purpose of this group is to re-design, fully fund and supplement the maintenance of the needed improvements to Rio Americano’s east sporting fields.  Its members have pooled their talents and resources to develop a comprehensive and functional architectural schematic to this effect.

Question #3: What guiding design consideration has influenced the proposed plan?

ARSA’s primary ambition has been to provide a quality, space-efficient master plan of the RAHS sporting fields that is consistent with campus beautification efforts, maximizes the fields’ use and the fundraising potential for the existing sports teams and school groups, and yet minimizes community and district concerns.  ARSA has retained experienced architectural and engineering professionals in an effort to achieve this goal.  To address the concerns of those potentially affected by the proposed field improvements, ARSA has solicited input from the Rio Americano Athletic Booster Club as well as selected neighbors, athletes, school and recreational coaches, RAHS student government representatives, the PTSA beautification committee, and Rio Americano Band Booster members.  All practical suggestions have been duly incorporated into this comprehensive master plan.  While there is no “perfect” scenario for every interest group or individual involved, the resulting ARSA plan represents a viable compromise that balances the needs of all parties.  It has been thoroughly reviewed by the Principal, appropriate Vice Principal and Athletic Director at RAHS and approved for submittal to the San Juan Unified School District.

Question #4: In general, what is ARSA’s proposed design?

As stated above, ARSA’s primary goal provides a design that allows for updated, safe fields that better utilize the space for the existing sports teams while addressing site, district and community concerns.  This plan does NOT involve the addition of any extra fields.  It simply presents a safer, more functional and productive environment for the sports teams that already use the east fields.  This submittal is divided into five design phases.  Each phase allows for construction as funding permits while providing the flexibility of combining phases if the financial and practical situation allows otherwise.  The first phase involves upgrading the existing football facility for Varsity football play.  The second phase repositions and updates the soccer, baseball, and softball fields.  The third phase re-orients the tennis courts, entails the pouring of the necessary hardscape related to the proposed changes and includes the building of permanent restroom, ticket booth, snack bar and shade structures.  The fourth phase updates the track & field facilities, and the fifth stage provides for the construction of a field house that supports the needs of both female and male athletes.

Question #5: Although the ARSA plan does NOT add any new playing fields to the grounds, why are many playing fields re-positioned?

Two sets of ARSA plans have been publicly submitted to date.  The original set of plans submitted gave priority to the positioning of the Varsity playing fields.  Because the Varsity soccer and baseball fields are both used on a year-round basis and have high spectator attendance, those fields were both proposed to be relocated closer to campus in an effort to distance the action and noise from the nearby neighbors.  This move positioned these two fields near the snack bar and common area, allowing for more money-making potential by their respective support groups.  This design gave the Varsity baseball field proper field orientation for play.  However, by moving the soccer field closer to campus, the JV baseball field had to be moved closer to the east fence.  As the JV baseball program only competes three months of the year and proper fencing and/or trees would reduce foul ball mishaps hit primarily from left-handed batters only, this compromise was passed within the group.  However, after receiving feedback from several neighbors who back up to that east fence, subsequent plans were drawn.  Upon neighbor recommendation, the soccer field was moved back to its current position and a compromise was made that allowed ARSA to increase the existing field size to new competitive dimensions.  The softball fields were also re-oriented in the second set of drawings to decrease the odds of foul ball mishaps. (This second set of formal drawings can be viewed on this website under the “Architectural” tab.)    In both sets of plans, the tennis courts had to be relocated due to: (1) incorrect orientation for match play, (2) improper grading, resulting in unofficial net heights, and (2) insufficient space between the courts, causing frequent collisions between players on adjacent courts.  However, despite its improper field orientation, the ARSA plan has never included the re-positioning of the Varsity football field & track due to the overwhelming financial burden of relocating the facility and the reality that the other sports would have to sacrifice accommodations to allow for such a move.

Question #6: Although the football field is not re-positioned, the proposed ARSA plan does expand the football program’s potential to play Varsity games on the RAHS campus.  Why is it necessary to play Varsity football games on the RAHS campus?

Rio Americano was originally built with a football field that has been used for freshman games over the years.  However, it is not sufficiently equipped with the accommodations that allow for league sanctioned Varsity level play.  Because our student body has never experienced the school-wide spirit generated from playing a Varsity football game on Rio Americano’s home field, because there are safety concerns regarding the condition of the present field and because our athletic booster club and student government need the funds that home field games generate, it is both desirable and necessary to make these improvements.  It is essential to point out that ARSA is NOT proposing a “grandiose” football facility.  Instead, this organization seeks something similar in scale to the football field that has already been accepted by the neighbors at the nearby parochial high school.

Question #7: Will this proposal include permanent sport lights for the RAHS football facility?

No!  Despite the fact that the RAHS athletes, student body and staff overwhelmingly prefer the option of hosting traditional Friday night football games, ARSA has determined that the advantages of having permanent sport lights are currently outweighed by the school-wide desire to maintain positive neighborhood relations.  Because immediate neighbors have in the past related concerns that permanent sport lights could become too intrusive, this accommodation is not included in this plan.  It is consequently recommended that RAHS schedule daytime Saturday home football games to accommodate the residents who are accustomed to having many activities going on at the school at that time.

Question #8: Given the prospect of hosting Varsity football games on the RAHS campus, what other neighborhood concerns have required consideration?

ARSA has focused much attention on two other potential areas of neighborhood contention, specifically game day traffic/parking matters and noise management.  In both cases, it is important to note that there are generally only five home football games per season.  Not only that, the use of the facility by outside groups is regulated by district and site administrators.  Proper scheduling by the RAHS administration will control the number of people attending events at the school on football game/major event days, alleviating the potential for unwanted traffic and sound disturbances.  The ARSA proposal has included the following two adaptations to further decrease traffic and parking concerns:  (1) a U-shaped drop-off area has been designed near the proposed ticket booth to keep traffic flowing inside the RAHS parking lot while reducing the number of spectators and athletes who are currently dropped-off along American River Drive, and (2) the design allows for the use of the P.E. blacktop in back of the school for overflow parking.  It is also significant to point out that the most attended Rio Americano football game in the 2003 football season (the homecoming game) had approximately 1680 attendees, including both home and visiting team spectators.  This number is well below the published 2003 enrollment of 1808 students that the RAHS campus accommodates on a daily basis.  In regard to specific noise level concerns, the sound of uproar from cheering crowds already exists for the immediate residents as many school and community athletic programs regularly use the east sporting fields.  By scheduling games during reasonable hours on Saturdays, the noise volume should be similar to that experienced on any other day.  However, in the neighbors’ interest, ARSA is committed to meeting all code requirements and conducting the necessary environmental impact studies.

Question #9: Is it appropriate to be spending money on athletic facilities when there are so many needs to be met in the classroom?

A significant point to make in this regard is that the ARSA proposal includes NO additional expenses to the SJUSD (see below for funding details).   It is common knowledge that local school districts have had to make difficult budget cuts and allocate available funds to provide basic classroom needs, such circumstances do not undermine the importance of supporting the enrichment and co-curricular activities that public high school students need to remain competitive with other college applicants.  Participation in school-sponsored athletic programs represents one of the many activities that universities often look for when admitting students.  RAHS has a quality program with coaches who encourage our athletes to work up to their full academic potential, but because the facilities do not reflect this fact, the school loses many top notch students who are interested in athletics to private institutions with better athletic accommodations.  If RAHS is going to maintain a student population reflective of its surrounding neighborhood, it is important to support the programs and facilities that keep well-rounded student-athletes who live within the RAHS boundaries at the school.  It is, therefore, imperative to provide the facilities that allow for a sports program that ultimately benefits the participating students and the school at large.

Question #10: Who will fund the proposed ARSA design, construction and supplemental maintenance?

ARSA has committed to conducting a major capital campaign to PRIVATELY fund all proposed improvements to the RAHS sporting fields.  Without any formal solicitation, ARSA has already received pledges of $250,000 to be used as seed money once the SJUSD approves this proposal.  In addition, many in-kind donations have been volunteered.  Ideally, money for the entire project would be raised over a one year period.  Should this goal prove unobtainable within the desired timeframe, the master plan is designed such that phases can be constructed as the funds are raised without affecting the overall function or aesthetic quality of the fields.  As the plan does not include any new fields, it is logical that the SJUSD would continue to perform the maintenance responsibilities that presently exist.  However, ARSA has anticipated that supplemental maintenance expenditures will be needed.  Such maintenance will be carried out by a combination of coaches, volunteers, students, and parents until the necessary private funds are raised for the long-term care of the grounds.  ARSA hopes to establish a memorandum of understanding with the district that includes these maintenance support issues, in addition to naming rights guidelines and a field usage agreement.  It is important to note that, even though ARSA is not requesting any extra out-of-pocket funding from the SJUSD, the organization does not propose a change of land ownership or management of the fields the fields would still be managed by the RAHS administration and SJUSD in this proposal in the interest of both the district and the neighbors.  ARSA looks forward to further negotiations with the appropriate district personnel that ultimately result in the construction of improved sporting facilities on the RAHS campus.