PICTURED ABOVE IS ONE RENDERING OF THE PROPOSED GRIZZLY STADIUM. At last Thursday’s meeting of the board of trustees of the Mariposa County Unified School District, MCHS head football coach Bob Kelly, and GAZETTE Publisher, Dan Tucker, made a presentation to the board and Acting Superintendent Aaron Rosander on what they described as “Grizzly Stadium.”

The pair outlined an effort that has been launched by a new local citizen group, the Grizzly Stadium Committee, that plans to convert the lower field between MCHS and Mariposa Elementary School into a stadium facilty for use as a youth sports venue and a community event center. The committee is operating under the non-profit MCHS Quarterback Club, and all fund raising efforts will be funneled through that organization.

They presented the board with a list of ten primary goals that the stadium is designed to accomplish. They are student retention, enrollment enhancement, student and staff pride, increased event attendance, community support and involvement, heightened concession sales, reduced district expenses, viable revenue stream, amplified student participation, and an enriched student experience.

They outlined that the facility would be a boon to local businesses and to Mariposa County through increased sales tax revenues and transient occupancy receipts.

Tucker cited an example that was shared by Jeff Hentz, tourism director and a committee member, of how the city of Redding, which doesn’t have a tourism draw, built a facility that has become an economic engine for that community.

The board was asked for just two things. One was to execute either a new 10-year lease or extension with Mariposa County, which exists now, and for the board’s full endorsement and moral support.

Tucker and Kelly outlined that funding for the project will come from a number of sources, both public and private, and through a variety of fund raising efforts.

The project was presented in phases. The first year the group hopes to complete new restrooms, a concessions building with a barbecue area, install rented bleachers, a booster sales area, a ticket house, an entrance archway and completely fence the venue, which would make it the only completely secure facility in Mariposa proper.

In the second year, the group proposes the installation of a concrete stadium seating, pressbox, and filming stand.

The board plans to discuss the project during this evening’s special board meeting.

An e-mail address for the committee has been established at stadium@sti.net, and a Web site (grizzlystadium.com) is under construction.

Once the board has endorsed the project, fund raising efforts will begin. One of those effort includes the sale of brick pavers with brass name plates that will be used to create a walkway from the ticket house to the bleachers. The brass plates will contain the names of alumni and school supporters.

The Grizzly Stadium Committee currently consists of Bob Morse, Larry Vilott, Ron Willey, Jason Dubberke, Alan Dayhoff, Marc Farias Jones, Steve Allison, Jeff Hentz, Celeste Azevedo, Loyd Hobby, Trace DeSandres, Bill Verley, Dave Gerken, Shannon Hansen, Kelly and Tucker.

In a related item, Tucker told the board that the MARIPOSA GAZETTE has purchased a 47- passenger tour bus that is equipped with a restroom, video monitors and air conditioning. It will be provided to the district for athletic and band transportation, and discussions regarding licensing and insurance are currently underway. Since further cuts to athletic transportation within the district’s budget are anticipated, the bus could significantly reduce a portion transportation expenses.