Latin Field Project Moves Forward
Thursday, October 25, 2007
SCHOOL NEWS UPDATE
Dear Latin Community,
I
wanted to share the exciting news that Latin will soon be moving
forward with building a new athletic field in south Lincoln Park in
partnership with the Chicago Park District. Our Board of Trustees has
approved the project, and we plan to break ground shortly.
You
may remember some of the multiple benefits of this public/private
partnership, enumerated in the letter the school sent out in July. This
synthetic turf field is part of the Chicago Park District's four-year
Capital Improvement Plan to build 20 new fields throughout the city,
and it will provide an additional, much-needed and safe recreational
area.
Based on feedback received from the community, Latin has
reduced its originally requested usage time of the field. While we will
still have sufficient time to support our robust athletic program, the
school will be using the field less than 25 percent of the field's
available time. This schedule will be very similar to our current usage
of Park District land. For the 75 percent of the time remaining, the
field will be available to any member of the public who obtains a
permit from the Park District for its use.
We expect the cost
of constructing the field to be about $2 million. Because the project
is a unique opportunity to build an outstanding recreational area for
Latin students and Chicago athletes of all ages, several donors have
come forward to pledge their support. To date, the school has secured
more than $1 million in commitments to help fund the field. We are
extremely appreciative of this outpouring of generosity, which will
help to see this project through to completion.
It is
important to note that this project would not have been possible
without the devotion of several Latin parents and members of the Board
of Trustees, the Board's Facilities Committee and the school's
administration. Current and future generations of Latin students owe
them a tremendous debt of gratitude.
We will continue to update
you throughout the year on this significant enhancement to the school's
athletic program. I hope to see you on the sidelines of the new field
in 2008!
Best regards,
Don Firke
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