After receiving a multi-million-dollar anonymous donation, New Trier High School is set to undergo a major renovation of its athletic turf fields over the next two summers. 

The total cost of the project is estimated at $14.2 million, with just over $9.75 million coming from a single anonymous donor with the district contributing the remaining $4.5 million. Importantly, the donation was made with the specific intent that the funds be used for outdoor athletic facilities.

The updates, part of a long-term master facilities plan, aim to upgrade and expand the outdoor athletic spaces at the Northfield Campus.

“The renovations are really in three phases,” Athletic Director Augie Fontanetta said. “There’s two that are defined, and one that’s kind of open-ended that may be part of our future master planning for our district and facilities.”

The first phase, beginning in summer 2025, involves replacing the synthetic turf on the school’s current stadium field and Fields 1 and 2. Originally put in place in 2012, that turf is reaching the end of its lifespan and needing replacement. The initial upgrades are straightforward replacements adding new turf materials, preparing the fields for continued student use.

The second phase, scheduled for summer 2026, includes the addition of two more synthetic turf fields to the north of the current complex. One of these fields will be surfaced with “poligras,” a turf designed specifically for field hockey.

“We will be able to run some other sports on it, but primarily it’ll be field hockey in the fall,” Fontanetta said. “We’ll use it for other sports in the spring.”

Alongside the new turf fields, lighting will be added to four of the five fields, enhancing their usability for evening games and practices. 

“Our goal is to have light on four of them, and then have each of the fields supported by bleachers,” Fontanetta said.

One standout feature of the redesign is the planned new system of bleachers.

“We’re trying to build a double-sided bleacher that would sit between the stadium and the field hockey field,” Fontanetta said. “It really would be one bleacher, but there would be one side facing the east towards Field 1 and one side facing west towards the stadium.” 

The structure will include a press box and serve both home and visiting spectators.

Another planned change is that all five fields will receive new scoreboards by the end of Phase 2, three at the existing fields and one at each of the new fields.

Student athletes are expected to benefit significantly from the upgrades.

“[Poligras] turf is a lot faster than regular field turf, which forces players to be more technical, controlled, and disciplined with their skills,” said junior field hockey player Lilly Cimaroli. “It will also make our teams learn how to play faster and more connected, which will definitely help when we play tougher teams and out of state opponents.“

The upgrades also help the community. Feeder programs including future New Trier students and local youth leagues use the fields on the weekends. 

The renovations aim to meet the needs of a growing athletic program with more and more students joining the program as time goes on.

“As our programs have grown, the need for facility improvements have grown,” Fontanetta said. “By adding to these fields, we’re trying to add seating to each, to accommodate viewers from both our home and visiting teams.”

The new field configuration is expected to improve efficiency and experience for players, coaches, and fans. 

“It is not uncommon to be hosting two varsity events or four to five games at the same time,” Fonatanetta said. “This will allow us to continue to do that and really do a little better of a job.”

With work beginning this summer, students and families can expect a steady transformation of the fields over the next few seasons.

“It is super exciting that this was able to come to fruition, and I can’t wait for the upcoming season,” Cimaroli said.