Building
Community
THROUGH SPORT
OUR PLAN
The Cimarron Athletic Field is open! This $4.0M project has transformed the empty field behind the Ridgway Secondary School into a vibrant recreational hub, with a synthetic turf soccer field, an all-weather eight-lane track, and spaces for field events, with plans for a large climbing structure centering a play/fitness area and a community gathering space with shaded seating. The facility is open to the public when not in use by students.
Soccer Field
A synthetic turf soccer field conserves water and allows teams to once again hold practices and games on our own field, even in inclement spring and fall weather.
Eight Lane Track
An all-weather track allows students to train and compete in a safe, standard-size facility and gives the community a place to gather for recreation and exercise. Until now, there was no publicly available track in the surrounding five counties.
Field Event Spaces
The new athletic field has spaces for long jump, high jump, triple jump, discus, shot put and pole vault.
Fitness and Play
A planned large climbing structure centering a play/fitness area will facilitate exercise and outdoor enjoyment for visitors of all ages.
Community Gathering Space
A planned shaded area with benches and tables will accommodate students, sports teams, and other groups.
Why so important
Ridgway, for all its natural beauty, lacks spaces for the community to gather and engage in outdoor physical activity. The Cimarron Athletic Field grants that access to the entire intergenerational community including schoolchildren, teachers, summer campers, and senior citizens who prefer the safety of walking on a track to braving icy, snowy, or muddy trails.
What it means for us
Construction of the Cimarron Athletic Field expands youth access and lowers barriers to sports in multiple communities around the San Juan region, including Ridgway, Ouray, Silverton, Telluride, Norwood, and the West End, with a total population of more than 13,000 people.
