Elite Soccer to share Prospect High soccer field

The practice soccer field at Prospect High School will be getting an upgrade, but the students will be sharing it with a lot more players starting soon.

On Thursday night the Northwest Suburban High School District 214 school board approved a four-year agreement with Elite Soccer, a youth soccer organization, for shared use of the practice field at Prospect High School.

Elite Soccer approached the district with a proposal for improvements at the Prospect High School field in exchange for shared use of the space.

District 214 worked with Elite Soccer previously as part of an intergovernmental agreement to install a turf football field at Rolling Meadows High School.

"It's a great opportunity for common use of facilities," said Superintendent David Schuler.

Also as part of the agreement, the practice field will be upgraded with a high-quality turf product to be inserted under the soil to make it more fertile and able to withstand increased use.

Schuler said the work on the field could start next week and the field will be ready for use by Prospect High School students and Elite Soccer this fall.

The improvements to the field will not cost the district any, however, because Elite Soccer will reimburse the district for 100 percent of the costs of construction up to $50,000.

Officials from the district and Elite Soccer will meet at least three times a year to coordinate scheduling for each season.

Under the agreement, Elite Soccer will pay a rental fee for use of the practice field, but only 75 percent of the published hourly rates.

The agreement is in place until June 30, 2019, with an option to renew for two additional years.

"That field largely sits unused when we aren't on it," Schuler said. "It's a great deal."