County Officials Say When Pritchard Park Turf Field Will Be Ready

RACINE COUNTY, WI -- County officials say Racine's first artificial turf football field will be ready for the 2020 high school football season after news came across that the Green Bay Packers would be contributing $250,000 toward its construction.

"We are grateful and ecstatic that the Packers, NFL Foundation and LISC value and support this project and will help us create a true community asset for Racine County," County officials said this week. LISC refers to the NFL's Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

Racine County and the Racine Unified School District created a partnership to develop the SC Johnson Community Sports Complex at Pritchard Park, providing more athletic fields for county-wide sporting and recreational events and activities. The project, which will begin construction in the fall of 2019, received a sizable boost this May after the Green Bay Packers announced they will be providing The grant comes from the Green Bay Packers through the National Football League Foundation Grassroots Program.

Following the opening of the SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center last June, the second phase of development and construction will include a state-of-the-art football/multi-use stadium, plaza and concessions. The development may also include somewhere between two and six baseball/softball fields with concessions, enhanced parking and preservation and beautification of natural spaces.

The funding for this project is a partnership between RUSD and Racine County, with each entity contributing $3 million, subject to County Board and School Board approvals. RUSD will use funds that must be allocated for community-wide purposes and projects beyond the district schools. The fields will be accessible to all county public and private schools as well as other organizations.
"This is a tremendous opportunity to partner with the county," said RUSD Superintendent Dr. Eric Gallien. "Together, we're going to be able to provide excellent, new athletic facilities for student athletes across the entire community. It's a great example of the power of collective impact."

Racine County completed a study and focus group on what residents want in their communities, and the results showed a need for major improvements to youth sports and recreational facilities.

"This partnership with Racine Unified is a game changer for our community," County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said. "For too long, the Racine area has lacked adequate facilities for youth and high school sports. Together with RUSD, we are providing our children and families with state-of-the art amenities and continuing to transform Pritchard Park into a destination for all."