Saint Viator is currently in the process of redesigning the current athletic fields to a new modern state-of-the-art facility—often referred to as the Backyard Project—that is expected to be ready by next school year. The rendering of the project was recently posted to social media this past fall, and more concrete discussions are being held about the project.
“We are in the process of submitting our application to the Village of Arlington Heights,” said Mr. Ryan Aiello, Saint Viator President.
The Backyard Project will involve the construction of a football stadium and other athletic facilities, and has been in the works for some time. Throughout the past few months, the team in charge of the project has continued to make progress in bringing this plan to life.
The Backyard Project is proposed to encompass a football stadium, surrounded by an eight-lane track, an additional field and eight tennis courts. The backyard property of the school will soon be able to accommodate football, lacrosse, dance, cheer, flag football, soccer, tennis. With the introduction of these new facilities, the old ones will have to be demolished. However, new and improved baseball and softball fields are to be constructed in an offsite location.
“We are working with different entities to identify and secure the future site for our Baseball/Softball complex,” said Mr. Aiello. These facilities will feature more space and have updated layouts for Lion athletes.
The Backyard Project will consist of many features carefully considered to help the facility fit well into the surrounding community. For example, the site design includes lowering the overall field elevation to provide assurance the storm water will be managed entirely within the project site. This will help to ensure there is no flooding or drainage into adjacent homes and properties. Another key feature of the site design involves the lighting of the fields. Since the school is located within a residential area, it is important the modern LED lighting systems are both energy-efficient as well as focused on the school’s property only.
There will be about ninety spaces added to the existing back parking lot behind the gym, allowing for more parking availability during practices and athletic events. For the infrequent, but more significant events, such as home football games, plans for this parking and other traffic management strategies are currently being thought-out.
Having a true home football field, right in the backyard, will likely raise school spirit among the Saint Viator student population. With the football stadium located right on Saint Viator’s campus, it would be a more convenient location for many students coming from all directions, as opposed to traveling to Forestview Stadium, about twenty minutes away from the school.
“I think that the football stadium would be a really good addition to the school because most people won’t have to go as far to get to the football field, so more people would go to games,” said freshman Matthew Busa. With the stadium at such a convenient location, students would be more likely to attend events held at the stadium, increasing overall school spirit.
“Even though I am a senior and this project will come after I am gone, it is fun to imagine how this project will help school spirit!” said senior Kaela Swinton.
As well as having a convenient location for attending home football games, the dwindling sense of community among athletes will be resolved. Many of the teams who had previously practiced and competed in all different locations will be brought together to one central location, Saint Viator. Students will have the opportunity to watch other teams compete before and after their own practices and games, which will foster a sense of unity and spirit among the school community as a whole.
Construction of the Backyard Project is projected to begin in fall of 2026 and end in spring of 2027. However, there are still a few steps to go before this happens.
“The Village’s Design Committee and Planning Committee must begin their review, submit questions, recommendations and required changes,” said Mr. Aiello. “We expect that process to last a few months, and our hope is that we can receive approval for the project from the Village Trustees in May or June.”
Stay tuned for upcoming developments as this project moves through the approval process!