Schools

PUSD and Diamond Ranch Celebrate Breaking Ground on New Field

The Diamond Ranch ceremony was one of three the district did in the same day to recognize the start of field renovation projects funded by Measure PS.

As bulldozers hummed in the background, Pomona Unified School District officials, Diamond Bar Mayor Jack Tanaka, along with Diamond Ranch High School staff, students and parents, Thursday celebrated the groundbreaking of the campus' field renovation project.

The short ceremony was the first of three the school district had on the same day to mark the start of various field renovation projects, including one at Garey High and another at Pomona High. 

Diamond Ranch Principal Suzanne Ripley thanked the school board for listening to community and making the field renovation project a priority.

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"We're so excited," Ripley said.  "I know this has been a long time coming."

Pomona Unified Superintendent Richard Martinez said the families of students have been instrumental in making the improvements a reality at long last.

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"I appreciate your patience," he said. "I understand you've waited a dozen years for this to happen."

Renovations to the Diamond Ranch field started about three weeks ago and officials said it will be done in time for the football team's first home game Aug. 30.

The project includes the installation of artificial turf, the school's log and graphics, along with new football goal posts and a scoreboard. Side bleachers will be changed for better views for the fans who come out on game days and concrete will be added to the existing hillside bleachers to improve seating, according to officials.

Side bleachers will be changed to improve views for all fans in attendance on game-days.  Concrete will be added to the field’s existing hillside bleachers, improving seating accommodations, officials said.

Besides the football field, the plans at Diamond Ranch call for a new nine-lane track surface and triple jump, long jump, and pole vault areas. The field also will get new lighting to increase visibility and improve safety after hours, officials said.

The renovations at all three high schools are being paid for with Measure PS funds.  The $235 million general obligation bond measure aims to help the district improve, repair, update, and replace classrooms and other school facilities.

Pomona Unified School Board President Roberta Pearlman stressed the importance of community support for the bond measure.

"I want to thank our community and our families because it's with Measure PS funds that we're able to do this," she said. "We wanted this for our students and our students deserve it."

Suzy Burks, mom to two sons who have played on the team and president of the DR Sideline Football Boosters, said she is looking forward to home games on the new field.

"It's going to pump up the spirit," Burks said of the field.  "We already get great attendance, but this is going to take it to the next level."

Roddy Layton, the football team's head coach, recalled the excitement when the district broke ground on the North Diamond Bar campus and talk of a stadium going back for close to a decade. The team has been playing its games on Ganesha High's field.

Layton, who has lived on the city's north end since 1975 and started coaching at Diamond Ranch in 2004, said that the field is on the way is a testament to Pomona and Diamond Bar parents who have pushed for it.

"This field, to me, is going to match what we've been accomplishing academically and athletically," he said. 


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