At the March 13 North Royalton Board of Education meeting, members of the North Royalton Stadium Foundation presented a check for $370,000 to be used for upcoming stadium renovations. The renovation project will include the full replacement of the turf playing surface. This project will begin on May 31, 2023, and will be completed in time for the upcoming fall season.
The Stadium Foundation is a group of citizens, Booster Club representatives and school officials. The original goal of the groups was to raise the $1.2 million needed to provide a regulation running track and artificial turf playing surface. The group was successful in that effort and made the final payment on that amount in 2015. It was clear that eventually the turf would need to be replaced and the Stadium Foundation accepted the challenge to raise the funds necessary to pay for that replacement without use of District dollars.
Over the last few years, the Foundation has raised funds by holding an annual golf outing and by participating with the North Royalton Educational Foundation in the Taste of North Royalton. In the last year, the Foundation renewed sponsorships at Serpentini Stadium through the sale of scoreboard and grandstand advertising. The check presented at the Board meeting represents the initial proceeds from those efforts and the Foundation has pledged to provide the balance of the turf cost estimated at $516,000 over the next two to three years. It should also be noted that in addition to these funds, the Foundation has paid for multiple repairs and upgrades at Serpentini Stadium. Two years ago, the Foundation also donated half the cost of a state-of-the-art video scoreboard.
“The North Royalton City Schools are very fortunate to work with many parent and citizen groups to provide for the children of the community,” said Board President Dr. John Kelly. “The Stadium Foundation is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when dedicated hard working citizens come together to accomplish a goal. We are extremely grateful for their efforts.”