Family Donates More Than $1 Million For New Football Field At Michigan High School, Creates Scholarship

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ITHACA, Mich. (AP) — A family is giving more than $1 million for a new football field at Ithaca High School and to create a college scholarship fund for students.

Artificial turf would replace grass at the field used by the high school. The stadium would also be available for other schools in Gratiot County and would likely host state sports events.

"It's going to be top of the line," said Steve Netzley, superintendent of Ithaca Public Schools.

The Morning Sun reported the donor family, who wants to be anonymous, also is starting a Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund for students in the Alma, Ashley, Breckenridge, Ithaca, Fulton and St. Louis districts.

"It will be up to each community to raise additional funds and select their scholarship winners each year," Netzley said.

The current football field has drainage problems and needs major upgrades.

"We were at the point where we were going to have to sink significant money into the facility to address the problems," Netzley said. "It was going to cost $300,000 to $400,000 to completely redo everything and install a new grass field."