FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2024
Land Acquisition North of Harvard High School Presents Exciting Prospects for Community and District Advancement
[Harvard, IL] — Harvard CUSD 50 is thrilled to announce the successful acquisition of 21.85 acres of land north of Harvard High School (HHS) and along US Route 14. This strategic purchase marks a significant milestone in community development, offering many potential solutions to address challenges faced by the District.
The newly acquired land presents a unique opportunity to tackle long-standing issues, including:
Athletic Facilities: Currently, there are no on-campus options for softball or cross-country. This acquisition opens avenues for HS athletics expansion and improvements to the baseball field.
Room for Harvard High School Expansion: Moving District equipment away from Harvard High School will also create room for potential expansion.
Water Retention for Football Field Turf Project: The land will support water retention for the HS football field turf project, enhance sports infrastructure, and save money to build water retention deep under the current field.
Equipment Storage: The location, including existing structures, will provide space for storing District equipment.
Parking Solutions: The addition of this land creates potential solutions for parking challenges.
Alignment with District Vision: The purchase aligns seamlessly with the District’s vision to create modern 21st-century education spaces and appealing facilities that meet the evolving needs of students, educators, and the community.
Agriculture and FFA Club: The land can supplement the district's existing land used for agriculture classes and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) club, providing additional educational and extracurricular activities resources.
The 40 acres east of Harvard Junior High donated by Motorola are still District property and will be essential to future District growth plans. However, that land won’t solve the space limitations on the Harvard High School campus, which our FFA Club still uses.
CUSD 50 recognizes that, while costly, this acquisition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to positively impact the community and create lasting improvements for generations to come. We look forward to collaborating with local stakeholders and community members to ensure the successful development of this land for the benefit of all.
###
Harvard CUSD 50
401 N Division St
815-943-4022