There has been a long standing relationship with the Wheat Ridge little league sports programs sharing the Wheat Ridge High School fields due to the field shortages within the City of Wheat Ridge.

Currently these high school fields are old and worn due to daily use over the past (50+) years. Constructing new fields is not an option because the City of Wheat Ridge is a land locked community with no available land to use. Current and past drought conditions coupled by water restrictions have made it impossible to keep the fields maintained to accommodate safe and extended use by other recreation programs for Wheat Ridge children and the community.

Because the renovation of these fields was not included in the recent Jefferson County School bond it is the responsibility of the residents and business community to fund this project. The City of Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County Open Space, Wheat Ridge residents, Wheat Ridge High School Alumni and students have graciously given to this project. We have raised close to one half our project cost equaling $600,000. We are currently working hard to raise the second half of our project costs.

Why do we care so much to fund this project?

Well, recently Wheat Ridge High School was recognized as a "high" achieving school by the Colorado Department of Education. With a rich tradition of academic and athletic standards in JeffersonCounty, Wheat Ridge High School has graduated:

141 National Merit Finalists
28 Boettcher Scholars
4 Fred Steinmark Award recipients

and won hundreds of league, district and state athletic/activity championships.

Additionally, participants in Jefferson County high school athletics averaged a 3.09 grade point as compared with the non-athlete average of 2.44 [1] . While maintaining high academic standards Wheat Ridge High School ranks among the lowest in household incomes, falling fifth from the bottom in the county for household incomes 2.

The average household income for this area is $38,983, compared to $57,339 for surrounding cities 3. Additionally, individuals earning below poverty level in Wheat Ridge has increased from 8.3% to 8.8% while poverty declined county-wide 4.

The children in the Wheat Ridge community have proven they are committed academically. The challenge is to provide them with the necessary fields for their after school and community activities without having to look outside their community to do so.

The Wheat Ridge Field Committee under the Wheat Ridge Foundation is currently raising money to install 3 synthetic sports turf fields and track located at Wheat Ridge High School. Installing these synthetic fields allows three times the playability. Additionally it affords us economic savings over time for maintenance and ecologically it conserves water and utilizes recycled materials.

These upgraded fields and track will allow our area youth to remain within their community for activities and will create new programs and activities for the children of Wheat Ridge. Finally, synthetic turf fields look professionally groomed year round and offer kids safe modern fields, in an economically challenged area. This synthetic turf and track will overcome four major challenges in our Wheat Ridge community.

• Lack of land for development of new fields
• Water and maintenance cost to the community and school district
• Keeps the Wheat Ridge kids in their community for after school activities.
• Provides necessary fields for community recreation programs

The Wheat Ridge Foundation is a non-profit 501 (C) 3 organization. Donations are made payable to The Wheat Ridge Foundation c/o Field Project 4005 Kipling St.Wheat Ridge, Colorado80033. Please help us achieve our goal!

1 CHSAA/University of Colorado Study 1999

2 Repositioning Wheat Ridge, City of Wheat Ridge report July 14, 2005;p. 43

3 Repositioning Wheat Ridge, City of Wheat Ridge report July 14, 2005;p. 13

4 1980, 1990, 2000 US Census Report