January 24, 2025
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$14M in stadium, theater upgrades planned at Crystal Lake District 155 high schools

Prairie Ridge’s stadium is slated to be renovated first to increase capacity and accessibility

By Michelle Meyer
Stadium lights illuminate Prairie Ridge High School's football field as Community High School District 155 participates in a parade around the fields at PR and Cary-Grove High School to show school spirit during the coronavirus pandemic. The district plans to do the same thing to honor seniors, as it recently announced it will reschedule its formal graduation ceremony.

Stadium lights illuminate Prairie Ridge High School's football field in a 2020 shot. Community High School District 155 plans to borrow up to $14 million to renovate stadiums and theaters at its four schools.

Crystal Lake-based Community High School District 155 will use up to $14 million in bonds to renovate theaters and sports stadiums at its four schools.

School board members on Tuesday approved a plan for the district to borrow money not to exceed $14 million through the issuance of alternate revenue bonds.

“Stadium and theater renovations will allow the district to make better use of fields and facilities, and the district can support the growing demand for extracurricular programs,” District 155 Superintendent Neil Lesinski said in the release. “All students will have more opportunities to get involved in sports and activities as a result of this initiative.”

The district plans to start theater improvements this summer, pending board approval, and to complete all four stadiums by August 2029, according to the release. The deciding order for renovating the stadiums will be based on the scope of the project, safety, erosion, drainage and if sport seasons will be affected.

“Instead of increasing taxes, the district can spread the burden of paying for capital improvements over time with this type of bond,” Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Kevin Werner said in the release. “The district will use state revenue to pay off the bond, plus interest, over the next 20 years.”

Prairie Ridge’s stadium is slated to be renovated first because of “erosion issues” and because it has the lowest capacity, according to the release. Renovations planned include increasing capacity, enhancing safety and foot traffic and improving ADA accessibility, storage and overall usage. Field turf will be installed and lined to accommodate all field sports. New seating, track and field surfaces, lighting, restrooms and a ticket booth will also be considered, according to the release.

“We are still in the early phases of planning, and we recognize the importance of transparent communication with our community and neighbors,” Lesinski said in the release. “As part of our commitment to our community, we will designate a district administrator to manage neighbor relations, and we will work with the city of Crystal Lake and the village of Cary throughout this process.”

The district is expected to sell the bonds by mid-February and receive the proceeds by mid-March, according to school district documents.

The district has invested $127 million over the past 15 years to renovate learning spaces, install air conditioning and do restoration work at schools, according to the release.

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