The Legacy Project is a collaborative capital improvement project that will have a lasting impact on our Warrior student-athletes and the Lebanon community.
It is a fundraising initiative to help secure the necessary private support to fund future phases of work, which may include:
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Upgrades and additions at James VanDeGrift Stadium to possibly include: new restrooms, new locker rooms, new concessions, visitor bleacher upgrades.
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In addition, ball diamond transformations at the junior high and high school campuses are planned, to ensure teams have access to four adequate fields with appropriate ancillary resources for freshman, JV and varsity teams.
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Additional upgrades planned at the high school campus include locker room space, a band tower, a press box, restrooms, adequate storage, additional usable grass space for practice areas, and more.
Investing in our future
We are proud to announce that, in advance of the 2024 school year, a turf surface will be added to the Lebanon High School campus (current youth football stadium) and a new home grandstand will be erected at VanDeGrift Stadium on Miller Road. This initial phase was made possible thanks to two major gifts and the support of the Board of Education.
A comprehensive master plan for our Warrior outdoor athletic and extracurricular spaces has been created. We have state-of-the-art indoor facilities and we have long recognized the need to improve our outdoor spaces.
The bleachers at James VanDeGrift Stadium (located at 160 Miller Road) are nearing the end of their useful life and need to be updated. The supporting structure for the bleachers is original to the stadium. It has been maintained, but is aging. The bleachers need to be updated to include handicap accessible ramps and seating and additional handrails.
Phase One:
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Home bleacher upgrades and a new press box at James VanDeGrift Stadium.
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Field upgrades and turf installation at Lebanon High School for soccer and lacrosse practice and competition.
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Excess dirt from the turf installation at the high school will be used to create safe and level practice spaces.
Phase One is paid for and ready to begin. Bidding for the bleacher and press box work at James VanDeGrift Stadium will begin in spring of 2023; construction will begin spring of 2024 with the goal of being open in the fall of 2024. Work to install the turf field at Lebanon High School will begin in October 2023 with a spring 2024 opening date for the lacrosse season.
The district believes it has an obligation to maintain and ensure safe and up to date facilities as a vital part of doing good business as a school district, and it believes that all district facilities must be safe and inclusive to everyone in our community.
The bleachers at VanDeGrift Stadium are nearing the end of their useful life and need replacement, the cost of which is about $1.6 million. Phase One of The Legacy Project will replace the home side bleachers that seat 2,250 people. The funding for the first phase of the bleacher replacement is coming from revenues gained by a 20-year renewal extension on a tax increment financing (TIF) agreement with Miami Valley Gaming. This is money the district is not currently collecting. The general fund will initially fund the work but as those revenues from Miami Valley Gaming are received annually, the general fund will be repaid. The district expects to receive about $950,000 per year from the TIF.
In addition to district funding, The Warren County Soccer Association donated $240,000 and the Lebanon Athletic Boosters has committed an initial cash donation, plus annual pledges promised over the next 10 years.
A home field for every sport
Lebanon High School Campus
Miller Road Campus
Many teams currently share one field. When completed, The Legacy Project will provide a home field for every sport. The addition of the turf field at the high school will increase practice and competition space. The turf field at James VanDeGrift Stadium will remain the home for Warrior football and track & field and Lebanon High School will become the new home for Warrior soccer and lacrosse.
The first phase of The Legacy Project addresses two immediate concerns — stadium bleachers and a second turf field — without needing to ask taxpayers for more money and without impacting general fund operating budgets.
Legacy Project Updates
PHASE ONE: HOME BLEACHERS & LHS TURF FIELD
VanDeGrift Stadium Updates
February 14, 2024
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Demolition of the existing home bleachers has begun. Installation of the new bleachers will begin in April.
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The old bleachers were donated to Millstream Speedway in Findlay, Ohio in exchange for their excavation company to remove the bleachers and prepare the site, at an approximate savings to the district of $75,000.
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The press box will be removed and stored at a district facility to be used elsewhere as part of a later district project, saving district funds.
LHS Stadium Updates
February 14, 2024
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The landscaping and soil was removed, new field drainage work completed, fencing installed, and concrete curbs around the new turf field were formed.
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The leftover topsoil will be used to level and prepare an adjacent practice field, saving the district funds on this initial project and in the future.
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The district is partnering with The Warren County Career Centers’ Heavy Equipment program; students will spread the dirt and level the practice field.
CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
Major Gifts & Naming Rights: Isaac Seevers, Keith Pantling, Lee Ann Slaughterbeck
Business Involvement: Roy MacCutcheon, Scott Butler, Mike Gliatti, Todd Carter
Alumni Relations: Coni Duning, Jim Vandegrift, Karol Aylor, Tom Russell, Pam Russell, Jim Norris
Events & initiatives: Bethanie Lamb, Amy Roddy,
Randi Hammiel, Courtney Wilson, Liza Johnson, Jennifer Smith, Laura Luoma, Christy Smith
Marketing: Andy Klein, Kristen Klein, Wendy Planicka
Youth Sports Engagement: Theresa Meyer, Landon Martin
CAMPAIGN CAPTAINS
Connecting our past to build our future through our finest local ambassadors
Judy Conrad
Spencer Cropper
Chris Johnson
Shawn Lamb
Mike Lane
Esther Larson
Scott Norris
Steve Poitinger
Jim VanDeGrift
Questions?
Please fill out the form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
The Legacy Project is not tied to an operating levy or bond issue and is dependent on private support, sponsors, and donations.