CCA Makes Dream a Reality for El Pueblo Ranch
Member firms donate time and materials to build facility's first track and field

Photos courtesy of Colorado Contractors Association

Members and staff of the Colorado Contractors Association and residents, staff and board members of El Pueblo Boys and Girls Ranch laid 45,000 sq ft - 8,000 rolls - of sod to complete the first multi-purpose field and track for the 108 boys and girls that reside at the ranch in Pueblo.

The new track and field was a gift of CCA's Association Advancement Committee, which selects a charitable project recipient every year as a way to demonstrate the unity of the construction industry and the community.

The committee chose the El Pueblo Boys' and Girls' Ranch in March as the recipient of their 2004 gift and made it their goal to create a field that could be used for activities like flag football and soccer. The field also includes a track.

"This was one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by CCA's association advancement committee," CCA President Ben Connell said. "We mobilized considerable resources during the different phases of the project, including dozens of pieces of heavy construction equipment, truckloads of materials, and many, many hours of skilled labor, all of which were donated by our members."

The project, which took six weekends to complete, included laying 60 tons of structural fill beneath the track, laying cement for the track curb, compacting and laying recycled asphalt millings for the track surface. The field also includes a fully functional sprinkler system.

The project was finished on May 15 when, after two rain delays, the volunteers laid the sod on the field.

"It was absolutely fantastic to see this project come together, and we all enjoyed working side-by-side with the kids living at the ranch," said Joe Wingerter, committee chairman. "We want them to know that we are people that care about them."

Before building this multi-purpose field and track, the children at the ranch were taken off site to nearby parks or school for recreational activities.

"One of the anchors of our program is the recreation and leisure piece," El Pueblo CEO and President Patty Erjavec said. "Now we finally have a site on-campus ... this is such a wonderful gift."

Founded in 1933, the CCA represents 370 Colorado construction firms and support businesses that build airports, light rail facilities, bridges and dams, highways and streets, parking lots, underground utilities, power and telecommunication transmission centers; wastewater and stormwater pipelines and wastewater treatment plants.

El Pueblo, an adolescent treatment community, is a private, non-profit organization that serves the needs of at-risk boys and girls, ages 10-18 and their families. El Pueblo currently serves 108 kids.

Photos courtesy of Colorado Contractors Association

Project Contributors

The following were contributors to the El Pueblo Boys' and Girls' Ranch project: