Field Enhancement and Landscaping Project
For 111 years, Francis W. Parker School has maintained a strong commitment to nurturing the physical well-being of its students by providing access to opportunities for outdoor play and physical education. The school also remains committed to upholding an inclusive tradition of a strict “no cut” policy for all athletic programming in grades 6 through 12, which ensures every student’s ability to participate in different team sports. The wide variety of physical activities available to our students has led to notably high use of our field at a level it no longer can safely support.
To provide access to a dependable playing area for student recess and recreation, physical education classes, and athletic practices and events, Parker will enhance its field. Our goal is to ensure that every student continues to have the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities and programs on our field that develop character and impart life lessons regarding camaraderie, team work, perseverance, dedication and physical health.
Parker’s Field Enhancement and Landscaping Project seeks to protect the value of outdoor play, physical education and interscholastic athletic opportunities in a student’s development. This project also seeks to enhance the aesthetics of the surrounding parkway landscape. The key elements of the project include:
- An artificial turf field system
- New straightaway running tracks with power and five outlets
- New landscaping for parkways along Webster Avenue and Lincoln Park West
- Repaired retaining walls, as well as new fencing at the east end of Webster Avenue running north and south along Lincoln Park West
- A new restroom and storage building
The school has chosen to install a synthetic turf field with an environmentally friendly plastic infill manufactured by Mondo, a company dedicated to environmental stewardship and committed to providing turf fields that meet high standards for safety, performance and maintenance. This product provides an excellent playing surface for students of all ages. Additional information about the Mondo infill can be found by clicking here.
The Field Enhancement and Landscaping Project is an all-school initiative that will require the generosity of the Parker community. As was true with past renovations to our campus, the funding for the Field Enhancement and Landscaping Project will not rely on tuition dollars. In order to complete the Field Enhancement in September 2012, we will need to continue to raise funds sufficient to cover the construction costs.
As we move forward with this project, we acknowledge our good fortune in being able to undertake this initiative. We believe that communication with our faculty, staff, parents, neighbors and 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith has been an important part of this overall process, and we recognize the value of continued work together.
To see renderings and site plans for the Field Enhancement and Landscaping Project, click here. To learn more about the aims of this project, as well as frequently asked questions, click here.
The school plans to begin this project immediately following the end of the 2011–12 school year and complete it towards the end of September 2012. As work progresses, the school will share updates with you.
We thank you for your support as we pursue this great enhancement to our campus.
Sincerely,
Daniel B. Frank
Principal
Damian R. Jones
Assistant Principal
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