Project Turf in Vernon Hills closes in on $800,000 goal

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Updated: March 17, 2012 8:10AM

Project Turf has nearly reached its fund-raising goal to install artificial turf on Rust-Oleum Field at the Vernon Hills High School Athletic Complex.

Dennis Donelon, chairman of Project Turf, which is leading the community effort to raise funds for the project, told the Vernon Hills Village Board that about $590,000 has been raised so far for the project, including $290,000 through private fund-raising and a $300,000 commitment from a Community High School District 128.

The Vernon Hills Park District also is planning to contribute another $100,000 to the project under an agreement that would allow the district use of the field for park activities over a 10-year period during times when the field’s not being used for Vernon Hills High School athletic functions.

With the park district’s contribution, the project will have raised nearly $700,000 of its $800,000 fund-raising goal. Project Turf officials are scheduled to meet with the Community High School District 128 school board on Feb. 27 to discuss options to cover the remainder of the cost so the project can move forward.

“When you take into consideration we started this campaign in the midst of an economic recession, we’re very pleased with the support we’ve gotten from the community,” he said. “I’m very pleased we’re at the point that we can bring this plan to the school board (for approval).”

If the school board approves the project at that meeting, the district would go out for bid for the project in March and installation of the artificial turf would begin on May 25, according to Vernon Hills High School Athletic Director Brian McDonald. The plan would be for the new synthetic turf surface to installed before the beginning of the football season this fall.

‘Factor of 10’

Donelon said the installation of artificial turf will greatly increase the potential uses of the field for high school related sports, as well as PE classes and community-related athletics. The existing natural grass surface can only be used about 35 times a year, mostly for high school football, soccer and lacrosse, due to wear and tear on the surface and sometimes the field can’t be used at all after heavy rains.

“We estimate we can increase by a factor of 10 the amount of uses for that field just by the high school (by installing artificial turf),” he said.

District 128 officials have been negotiating with the Vernon Hills Park District for several months on an agreement that would allow the district use of the fields for some park activities after artificial turf is installed, McDonald said.

Jeff Fougerousse, executive director of the Vernon Hills Park District, said the district hopes to use the fields for some adult soccer leagues and lacrosse programs during the spring and fall months and a summer camp program for youth in the summertime.

“There’s no synthetic turf at any of our facilities and the park district saw this as a good opportunity to provide some new programs,” he said. “It provides a new resource to the community.”

Vernon Hills officials also pledged support for the project at the board meeting and trustees indicated they would consider some financial assistance to help the project achieve its fund-raising goal, possibly through a donation or some type of loan. Village Manager Mike Allison said the village will set up a meeting with District 128 Superintendent Prentiss Lea in the near future to determine what type of assistance may be needed.

“We just need to find out what they’re thinking is and how close they are to doing something,” he said.

Donelon said the project would not have been possible without the tremendous support they have gotten from the community. The Cougar Athletic Boosters raised about $100,000 for the project and about 15 businesses and corporations have made major pledges to the project.