LaSalle-Peru Township High School officially broke ground for Phase II development of the L-P Sports Complex on Tuesday, March 7.
This project will see the addition of competition baseball and softball diamonds, expansion of tennis courts, and installation of artificial turf to the school’s soccer field, along with expanded parking space. Additionally, restroom facilities will be added to the existing soccer field utility building and a structure will be built near the baseball/softball diamonds to serve as a concession stand, press box, and restrooms.
“Our school and community has taken great pride in maintaining a standard of excellence for our athletic facilities, stretching back to the construction of Howard Fellows Stadium in the 1930s,” said Dr. Steven Wrobleski, L-P Superintendent. “With this latest phase of construction, we are continuing that legacy of providing amazing facilities to our students and community.”
Thanks to careful stewardship of the school district’s finances, Dr. Wrobleski and the Board of Education are proud to share that this approximately $9.5 million project is being completed without any increase to the community’s tax bill. In fact, the Board of Education approved a tentative tax levy this year that is expected to decrease the tax rate by three cents without deficit spending. Completing Phase II development of the Sports Complex fulfills a goal in L-P’s strategic plan, The 120 Promise.
"The 5-year strategic plan, The 120 Promise, was developed with community input and we’re very excited to be fulfilling one of the goals in that plan,” L-P Board President Tony Sparks said. “To accomplish this while maintaining a flat tax rate and overall strong financial outlook is a huge win for the school district, taxpayers, community, and, most importantly, our student-athletes."
The project is being managed by Byrne & Jones Construction of St. Louis with opportunities for local laborers and contractors to complete various sub-contracted pieces of the project.
By completing this project, L-P will expand its ability to host post-season competitions, provide true home field opportunities for baseball and softball programs, and create a safer, easier to maintain field for the soccer program.
“This is the start of a new era for our baseball and softball programs,” Mike Kuziel, L-P Athletic Director, said. “Furthermore, we’ve seen great growth and success by our tennis and soccer programs in recent years. We want to ensure they have access to the same quality facilities as our football team and indoor sport programs.”
Work is scheduled to begin as soon as possible and continue through the summer and fall so that all facilities will be completed in time for the 2023-2024 sports seasons.
