Updated august 1, 2019

A new $1.3 million multi-purpose field house could soon be built at Richland School as the plan for a privately funded project was announced Wednesday by key stakeholders.

The project is an undertaking of the Raider Nation Booster Club, which has already received pledges toward approximately one third of the total cost and will not begin construction until the full amount has been secured as a safeguard for the school and county.

 According to Booster Club president Chris James, the club will have 100 percent before breaking ground.  We’re not going to put the school system at risk, and we’re not going to put ourselves at risk.

The initial target date for ground breaking is set for October this year with a proposed grand opening projected for August 2020.

While the expansive project would include all the amenities and rival some of the top football facilities in the state, booster club member Chuck Boggs emphasized that the project will serve much more than just the Raider football team.

Boggs and his team at ACE, LLC SOLAR worked with Richland head football coach Nick Patterson on the designs for the project and what key features needed to be included to service the football team as well as the baseball, softball and soccer programs.

The plans include a 66-yard artificial turf field that will be regulation width. Weight rooms, locker rooms and restrooms will also be included in the multi-level facility that incorporates the natural slope on the northeast side of the school’s campus. The 35,000-plus square foot facility will also include VIP viewing rooms, broadcast booths, coaches’ offices and a roof top viewing area.

Patterson said the great thing is they not asking for county resources to build. It is entirely privately funded or will be.