YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown City School District has set a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday to celebrate the new artificial field turf installation at Rayen Stadium.

The 6:30 p.m. ceremony at 1903 Cordova Ave. is open to the public. The event will feature YCSD cheerleaders and the introduction of this year’s athletics rosters.

Constructed in 1924, Rayen Stadium is one of the oldest football fields in Youngstown and has played an important role in not only Youngstown City School District history, but the city itself. In 1941, for example, the Oklahoma City vs. Youngstown College football game at Rayen Stadium marked the first use of the penalty flag in football, according to school officials.

The center of the field showcases the school district’s Y logo at its center, with the list of district high schools underneath from both past and present. The work was done by The Motz Group, an Ohio-based, professional-level athletic field construction company.

“We recognize how beloved the Rayen Stadium is to YCSD alumni and the Youngstown community,” schools Superintendent Justin Jennings said.

“The district wanted to recognize our past while keeping our scholars in mind first. With the new artificial turf, more of our scholars will have access to the field, providing more opportunities for families and community members to come together for games.”

In addition to football, the Rayen Stadium is lined for other sports, including rugby and soccer.

More schools also are receiving upgraded facilities, such as a baseball field at East High School and a middle school football field at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, and track at Chaney High School.

The district has put $7.8 million toward athletics. Rayen Stadium improvements are being paid for by a mixture of COVID-19 relief funds and money held for improvements.

The stadium wasn’t used much after 1982, with the completion of Youngstown State University’s Stambaugh Stadium, which the city schools began using for their home games. The stadium was repaired prior to the 2012 football season.