Construction continued this week on the stadium field at Ridgeview.

Artificial turf is gaining ground in the 5A Intermountain Conference, one of the last bastions of grass football fields among Oregon's bigger schools.

Ridgeview and Redmond are adding artificial turf fields, as well as resurfaced tracks, this summer. They will join Summit and Caldera as IMC schools with artificial turf, leaving Bend, Mountain View and conference newcomer Crook County as the only ones that will play on grass this season.

“We're all really excited,” Ridgeview athletic director Randi Viggiano said. “I think we've got the most beautiful view in Oregon, looking over the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor. Now we'll have a pretty new turf field and track.”

Conserving water and lowering maintenance costs at Ridgeview and Redmond were the main factors in the project, which is part of a Redmond School District bond.

“It gets so hot and dry over here, it takes a lot of water to keep our fields playable,” Viggiano said. “There are a lot of ways where the investment will save money long-term.”

Construction on the fields started in May after the final track practices. Ridgeview is hopeful that its field will be ready for its first home football game Aug. 29 against Woodburn, but if it isn't, the game will move to Woodburn. Redmond's first home football game is Sept. 12 against Pendleton/Nixyaawii.

Ridgeview and Redmond consulted four-person groups of athletes and coaches from football, soccer and track to determine the field and track designs.

Redmond opted for alternating light- and dark-green artificial turf every five yards and Ridgeview chose a uniform dark green. Ridgeview's track, which was black, will be purple. Redmond's track will be maroon.

“All of our athletes were unanimous in all of their choices,” Viggiano said.

The artificial turf not only will provide a consistent surface year-round, but it will alleviate wear on the football practice fields.

“Our football practice fields are both grass and get torn up pretty well,” Viggiano said. “We'll have another practice facility that we don't have to worry about getting worn down.”

The football and soccer teams will benefit from practicing on different types of playing surfaces, according to Viggiano.

“I definitely think that's helpful,” Viggiano said.

Ridgeview's varsity soccer teams have their own game field but typically play a handful of matches on the football stadium field. The artificial turf will mean more varsity soccer matches on the stadium field.

“Our soccer teams will get to play under the lights at the stadium, and get access to that environment, while also still having our varsity soccer field,” Viggiano said. “It will be nice to get some of those early-season games in the evening when it's not so hot so they're not having to play at 95 degrees at 3:30 in the afternoon.”

Redmond soccer teams have played a few games on the artificial turf at the adjacent David M. Jaqua Sports Complex, a district-operated facility, since it opened in 2021. With the new turf, the school plans to play most of its varsity home matches at the football stadium.

The resurfaced tracks will be a welcome addition. Ridgeview was overdue to resurface its track, which was built when the school opened in 2012.

“When it was originally built, the quality of the material is just not a great surface for running,” Viggiano said. “This will be much improved. The surface will be better for our athletes' performance and the health and well-being of their bodies.”

Ridgeview also moved its shot-put area from east of the football field to next to the pole vault pit. The switch means that most of the field events will be in a central area.