PICTURED ABOVE IS AN ARTIST’S RENDING OF THE STADIUM ENTRANCE. RENDERING BY MARC FARIAS-JONES The Grizzly Stadium Committee has reported that progress is being made on the project that will convert all the fields between Mariposa County High School and Mariposa Elementary School into Grizzly Stadium.

Chairman Dan Tucker said, “We have secured a major sponsor that will be providing substantial funding for the project, and that entity will be announced once the final details are ironed out.”

The committee, which operates under the MCHS Quarterback Club, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, will ask the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors for a $150,000 committment of Tobacco Settlement funds for material expenses at the Tuesday, June 22 board meeting.

“I’m not sure if people understand the economic benefit this facility will provide to the community as a whole. When it’s finished, it could easily pump $1.5 million into the local economy each year,” Tucker said. “We are at the stage now that what we really need is community support and involvement. We need everyone from 8 to 80-years- old who supports this project to be at next Tuesday’s board meeting at 9 a.m. This is a crucial step in the phase one process, and numbers speak volumes.”

Four local businesses and organizations have committed to the committee’s “Wall of Honor” portion of the project. They have committed to financial support of $2,500 per year for four years, and eight more spaces on the wall are open. For more information, contact Tucker at 966-2500.

Further details on the project will be available next week, and now that school is out for the summer, the committee plans to begin work on the facility soon. The giant Grizzly sculpture that will greet fans at the stadium entrance is now on display in the front office of the MARIPOSA GAZETTE.