Fields & Futures

PROJECT PURPOSE

Fields & Futures was created to respond to Oklahoma City Public School District?s below-national average rates for graduation and sports participation. As a registered 501 (c)(3), Fields & Futures has built 62 athletic fields over eight years to rebuild and maintain athletic facilities to build better students, leaders, and a better future. Data shows us that athletic activities are not a diversion from academics, but rather an extension. Students who participate in activities tend to have higher grade-point averages and attendance, lower dropout rates, and fewer discipline problems. For $4,798,000, the Oklahoma ARPA funds will be used to rebuild and maintain athletic facilities located at both John Marshall and Douglass High School. Fields & Futures has proven success of transforming athletic fields in order to create better structure for the students of OKCPS. The project?s goal is to provide a safe and competitive standard for year-round access, play, and use. For John Marshall High School, funds would be used to build baseball, softball, football fields with artificial turf, track & field enhancements, and athletic facility upgrades with included long-term maintenance support totaling $3,180,000. Douglass High School will require $1,000,000 to upgrade the practice field, fencing, with long-term maintenance support included.

EVIDENCE

Fields & Futures has been building athletic facilities for several years now, resulting in tangible data showcasing the impact of its inception. Comparable projects have been completed all throughout the OKCPS District including Capitol Hill High School, NW Classen High School, and Jefferson Middle School. The comparative evidence between students who participate in sports versus those that do not that validates the need for upgraded facilities. Supportive Documents are included to showcase the evidence that validates the project.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Both John Marshall and Douglass High School placed in the bottom 50% of all 1,700 schools in Oklahoma for overall test scores. 100% of the student body for both high schools are eligible for free lunch, which is determined by income guidelines. John Marshall?s enrollment of minority students makes up 90% of the student body. Douglass High School?s minority enrollment is 96% of the student body. Both enrollment percentages are higher than the Oklahoma State average of 51%. Health inequities were a serious concern onset by the pandemic. People from some racial and ethnic minority groups face multiple barriers to accessing health care. Issues such as lack of insurance, transportation, childcare, or ability to take time off work can make it difficult to seek medical attention. COVID-19 data shows that Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native persons in the United States experience higher rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and death compared with the White population. According to a Washington Post-Ipsos poll, 50% of teens age 14-18 said the pandemic had a negative impact on both academics and mental health. Teens were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic due to lack of structure and physical activity.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Fields & Futures have proven its success through the 62 completed projects. Project performance can be measured by the available data at comparable schools in OKCPS that have been transformed through the help of Fields & Futures. Data collected through measuring grade point averages, ACT scores, attendance, and behavioral issues have consistent district-wide findings that there is power in sports. Fields & Futures will continue to partner with both OKCPS and the City of Oklahoma to collect the necessary data that links athletic participation with the success of each student at both John Marshall and Douglass.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma