Three more District 214 schools to get artificial turf

Three more school stadiums in Northwest Suburban High School District 214 will get artificial turf fields this year through cost-sharing partnerships with local park districts and other groups, the school board said on Thursday.

Artificial turf, which costs about $1 million per field, will be installed at Buffalo Grove, Prospect and Rolling Meadows high schools in time for the fall football season.

District 214 will split the costs at Buffalo Grove and Prospect high schools evenly with the Buffalo Grove and Mount Prospect park districts. Elite Soccer of America Inc., will share the cost at Rolling Meadows High School.

The agreements give the park districts and Elite Soccer shared use of the fields. Wheeling and Hersey high schools installed synthetic turf fields last year through partnerships with the Wheeling and Arlington Heights park districts.

“I think these are going to be great facilities for a lot of years,” said Board President Jim Perkins. “A lot of use is going to get out of them and the fact that we’re going to get so many done in a short period of time is great.”

The addition of new artificial turf fields will mean five of the district’s six high schools will have received the upgrade in a little more than a year.

Superintendent David Schuler said plans for an artificial turf field at Elk Grove High School are on hold.

“It’s not that we’re not interested in a sixth (field). We’re continuing to look for partnerships and working with them,” Schuler said. “With the drainage and flooding issues in that area it makes sense for us to wait a little longer before we proceed.”

Board member Alva Kreutzer who previously voted against the artificial turf agreements last year, changed her vote Thursday and supported the plan.

“I’m still concerned over the district’s financial future,” she said, adding that the decision by the board to sell $20 million in bonds changed her mind as that money will help fund these turf agreements and other facility improvements.

“We need to look at our current facilities and improving what we already have. I’m being cautious and there’s no fault in being cautious.”

According to a study done by the district last year, by sharing the costs with partners, the fields will pay for themselves in less than nine years.

Buffalo Grove and Mount Prospect park districts are expected to approve the intergovernmental agreements later this month.