Students, parents, and city leaders gathered despite cold weather to celebrate Taft ISD’s new athletic complexes, part of the 2025 bond.
TAFT, Texas — Taft Independent District officially opened its brand-new softball and baseball turf complexes with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, marking a major milestone from the district’s 2025 bond improvements.
Students, parents, city officials, and community members gathered at the fields, and the cold weather didn’t stop the celebration.
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Attendees toured the facilities, snapped photos, and watched as a new chapter for Greyhound athletics began.
Taft Athletic Director Joe Riojas called it a long-awaited moment for the district.
“It’s an exciting day — highly anticipated, and it’s finally here,” Riojas said. “It’s a great day to be a Greyhound.”
The new turf fields replace the district’s former dirt surfaces, allowing athletes to train and compete in more consistent conditions.
“Now we can practice and play in pretty much any type of weather,” Riojas said. “This is great for our student athletes and great for the community.”
Riojas added that the improvements reflect Taft’s continued growth as a district and community.
“There are bigger and better things coming… giving our student athletes all the tools they need to be successful,” he said.
The excitement carries into gameplay this afternoon, with the softball team holding its first scrimmage.
“We hope to see everybody come out and check out the fields,” Riojas said. “It’s an exciting time.”
District leaders say the new complexes are designed not only to serve student athletes but also the broader Taft community for years to come.
To learn more about the Taft ISD bond program, click here.