KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After continued drainage issues forced cancellations (and a myriad of headaches), the fix is finally in for Center High in Kansas City. The school broke ground this month on a brand new turf athletic complex, expected to be complete in time for the fall semester.
“Turf is something that Center School District has wanted for quite some time," said Principal Edward Tate. “Road games we go to— some of these really nice stadiums with really nice turf fields and video boards and things of that nature. Now our kids will get to experience a lot of that.”
District officials estimate the project will cost close to $1 million to complete, but the school system isn't alone in footing the bill. A grant from the Kansas City Chiefs netted $250,000 to help complete the new facility. “They’re putting the investment into their community," added Rick Carpenter, Director of Operations for Center School District.
“Even though they’re Super Bowl champs and they’re on top of the hill right now they haven’t forgotten about the people in this community," finished Tate. Construction enters week 3 of a 16-week process Friday.
"They're not going to believe what they see when they show up," said Tony Humphrey, Superintendent with Mid-America Golf and Landscaping. Humphrey said the facility installed at the school will be similar to the one used by the Chiefs at their training facility at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Lincoln Prep received a similar field and grant in October 2019.
