Construction on Falcon School District 49ís Vista Ridge High School athletic complex, a multipurpose outdoor venue, is on the homestretch. The complex is slated for completion next spring. At the same time, the sports program at Vista Ridge will earn 4A status.The site of the complex, complete with a baseball and football field, is on the west side of the school. The entire project includes landscaping, an entry, spectator seating, a concession stand, restrooms, lighting, fencing, traffic calming measures and additional parking.ìUltimately, this project helps to fit into the Vista Ridge High School goal of being able to compete at every level,î said Stephanie Meredith, D 49 communications specialist. ìUp to this point, students had to practice and compete without a facility that made them proud. This is an investment in pride and being able to carry that into all aspects of the educational experience ñ top notch classrooms and teachers.î Student athletes presently practice at Falcon or Sand Creek high schools.Falcon Community Builders for Classrooms, D 49 patrons and the district board of education are implementing the project. FCBC is a nonprofit organization, funded by voluntary fees from more than eight home builders and developers in eastern El Paso County. The organization has donated more than $3.5 million to the school district and, since its creation in 2005, has collected more than $5 million in voluntary fees, according to an FCBC release.No other school districts in Colorado have a nonprofit organization like FCBC, said Sarah Jack, FCBC administrator and D 49 consultant. FCBC has committed more than $1 million to fund the complex.ìWe worked with the district to provide a program that would help,î Jack said. ìThey (homebuilders) pay $1,500 in voluntary impact fees, over and above the natural fees to donate land, for each new family home. If they build a four-plex, it is on a sliding scale.îFCBC paid for the football field and stadium lighting, which totaled $900,196. The cost of the baseball field ñ about $1 million ñ came from the 2005 mill levy funds for capital improvement projects. Funding is still needed for the concession stand and restrooms. ìOur student athletes now have a high quality facility on which to practice and play,î said Bruce Grose, associate principal of Vista Ridge. ìOur goal is to make sure our students can compete in all aspects of their educational experience, and having a complete athletic facility is a part of that mission. The Vista Ridge High School staff and I are especially thankful for the generous contribution of Falcon Community Builders for Classrooms that made this new field possible. This private donation has ensured that our athletes have facilities that meet the high standards we have set at Vista Ridge.îFCBC also funded a second story wing at the school. Both the wing and complex are part of the board of educationís needs assessment capital improvement projects. FCBC bylaws only allow funding contributions to capital improvement projects.ìWithout funding, most of these projects would still be on the list. The capital improvement projects list is extensive,î Meredith said. ìThe districtís primary focus is on classroom resources. Often times the extracurricular projects are last on the list.î
