Students, staff, community members, and the Board of Education celebrated the opening of Prairie Ridge High School’s renovated stadium with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 25, 2026.

Stadium renovations included a new turf field, resurfaced track, a new press box, expanded common areas and bathrooms, a ticket booth, and enhancements to safety and accessibility for all attendees.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dr. Neil Lesinski, superintendent of Community High School District 155, and Dr. Steve Koch, Principal of Prairie Ridge High School, thanked donors, representatives from Pepper Construction and FGM Architects, and staff who played an important role in completing the stadium renovations. They also spoke about the impact of the renovations to elevate the experience of events for all attendees while supporting students in sports and activities with a stadium that can be used throughout the school year for events like band, flag football, football, gym classes, lacrosse, soccer, Special Olympics, and track and field. 

“The renovations to Prairie Ridge’s stadium will enhance the experience we are able to provide for our students, staff, and community while supporting the continued growth of our athletic and extracurricular programs,” said Dr. Neil Lesinski, superintendent. “This project also reflects our Board of Education’s continued commitment to investing responsibly in facilities that create meaningful opportunities for students and serve our community for years to come. We are grateful to our district team, construction partners, and generous donors whose collaboration and investment have helped make these improvements possible.”

After the event, all attendees were invited onto the field to take photos to commemorate the event. 

Renovations to the Prairie Ridge stadium are a part of The Progress with Purpose Capital Improvement initiative to renovate theaters and stadiums across all District 155 high schools. In January 2025, the Board of Education approved a $13.3 million alternate revenue bond to fund these renovations. The district will pay off the bond, plus interest, over the next 20 years. Capital Campaigns will also be launched for each stadium project to help raise additional funds and allow the community to leave their mark on this project.