Libertyville varsity team could move fields next season

Libertyville High School's girls varsity softball team could play its home games on a different field next season, officials said Tuesday.

Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 officials are considering moving the varsity team from a field at rear of the school to a diamond at the front of the campus where the junior-varsity team now plays.

Additionally, a new irrigation system and fencing would be installed ahead of the spring 2011 season, said Yasmine Dada, the district's assistant superintendent for business.

The field needs to be improved because it "isn't up to the par of our other fields," Dada said.

As part of the proposed move, the junior-varsity softball team would relocate to a site behind the school, Dada said.

The District 128 school board's facilities and finance committee has been talking about what to do with the field. It met Monday night but made no final decisions.

Improving the front field for the varsity team could cost $70,000 to $80,000, Dada estimated. Fixing up the rear field for the junior-varsity team could cost $40,000, she said.

Dugouts could eventually be built for the varsity athletes, but that amenity is being put on hold "until we know where our finances are," Dada said.

Several District 128 athletic fields have received improvements over the past decade.

The baseball and softball fields at Vernon Hills High School have received new dugouts. Additionally, artificial turf was added to the Vernon Hills High varsity baseball field's infield ahead of the 2009 season.

Perhaps most prominently, the Libertyville High football field was resurfaced with artificial turf in 2005.

Community donations and corporate contracts helped pay for the projects. The proposed Libertyville High softball projects would be paid for with school funds, however, because the repairs aren't optional cosmetic improvements, Dada said.

If the school board approves the projects, officials could seek construction bids in July and final board approval in August, Dada said.

Work would begin shortly thereafter.