Park District Plans to Install Turf Field at Monroe Middle School

The District 200 Board of Education on Wednesday will vote on an agreement with the Wheaton Park District to allow construction of synthetic turf fields behind Monroe Middle School. 

Per the intergovernmental agreement, the park district would take on a 25-year lease of the property behind the school and build up to two turf fields. 

Park District Executive Director Mike Benard said the district will start with one field and may decide to install another in the future.

The park district currently uses school district property behind Monroe for football—primarily the Wheaton Rams program, and softball. The new fields would be designed for soccer, lacrosse and football use, according to a District 200 staff memo. 

Before construction, the park district will have to show its design plans to District 200 staff for review. If District 200 objects to the plans, the district could end the agreement, and would reimburse the park district for half of the design costs incurred, according to the agreement.

The 25-year lease will allow the park district to replace the field in about 10 to 12 years, according to the agreement.

The park district board will take action on the agreement at its May 15 board meeting. Following the board's approval of the project design and bids later this year, the project should start in the spring of 2014, Benard said.

He said the estimated cost for a new field is $750,000 to $1 million.

The District 200 Board of Education meets 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8 at Madison Elementary School.

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