CRETE - A Southeast Nebraska school system will soon have its own space to host athletic events without needing to share fields with a nearby university.

Crete Public Schools announced Wednesday that it plans to begin construction next week on a multi-purpose athletic facility which will allow Crete to host football, soccer, tennis, track and band events on their own turf - literally.


One of the largest school systems south of the Metro, Crete currently shares many facilities with NAIA Doane University, which is just down the street, but CPS says that the growth in both schools' programs has caused scheduling conflicts and space limitations, making it even more essential for the Cardinals' teams to have their own space to practice and compete.

CPS is calling the initiative Project Rise. In a Wednesday press release, Crete Public Schools said the first phase of the campaign will implement new lighting, permanent bleacher seating and a press box. The full program will cost approximately 10 million dollars. Roughly half of that money will come from the district's building fund, and the rest from a capital campaign.


The groundbreaking ceremony to kick off Phase One of Crete's Project Rise is set for Monday morning. We'll have more on this story including video from Monday's event next week here on News Channel Nebraska. 

The following is Wednesday's complete press release from Crete Public Schools announcing the Project Rise campaign. It has been reprinted in full. 

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Crete Public Schools breaking ground on athletic facility improvements

District to host groundbreaking ceremony for Project Rise on May 5

 

CRETE — Crete Public Schools will officially launch the next chapter in its proud tradition of student success with the groundbreaking of Project Rise: Elevating the Cardinal Experience.

School officials and coaches will host a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, May 5 at 10 a.m. near the current tennis courts. The event marks the start of construction on a new multi-sport, multi-purpose athletic facility designed to serve CPS students across football, soccer, tennis, track, and band.

"For decades, Crete students have competed with talent and pride, often without a true home of their own," said Dr. Josh McDowell, Superintendent of Crete Public Schools. "Project Rise is an opportunity to change that. It’s a chance to create a space that's always available, always ours, and always focused on student success."

The approximately $10 million project will be funded with $4-$5 million from the district’s building fund. The remainder will come from a capital campaign.  

“We are excited to present Project Rise to the Crete community,” said Marilea V. Thiem, Executive Director of CPS Foundation. “There has not been a large district capital campaign for a project like this before. We believe the community will be willing to support this project because of how many students it will impact for generations to come.” 

For many years, CPS has had a contract to use football, soccer and track facilities at Doane University. But as both institutions’ programs have grown, scheduling conflicts and space limitations have made it increasingly difficult for Crete students to compete, practice, and perform without disruption.

"There are times we play five games on three different fields," said Matt Martin, Crete High School Activities Director. "It affects student energy, it impacts the fan experience, and it challenges our ability to build tradition."

Project Rise will directly address these challenges. The campaign’s first phase will deliver:

- New lighting

- Permanent bleacher seating and press box

- Scoreboards

- Improved event scheduling control

- Safer, better-managed athletic environments

These upgrades will allow CPS to host middle school, freshman, and JV football, along with soccer and track events, on district-controlled spaces for the first time.

"For the first time, the Crete community can help create a true home for our Cardinals," McDowell said. "A place where practice, performance, pride, and possibility meet."

The vision for Project Rise doesn’t stop with Phase I. Future phases will continue to expand and enhance the facility, creating a gathering place that serves not just athletes, but the entire Crete community.

Phase II improvements will include:

- Expanded tennis courts

- Coaches boxes

- A fan experience pavilion featuring concession stands and a spirit store

- A dedicated home locker room

Phase III will add:

- A new multi-sport fieldhouse

- Further track and field enhancements

- Field turf installation

- Paved parking facilities

- Additional infrastructure improvements

"Having our own stadium creates opportunities we've never had before," Martin said. "It means more events, a stronger school community, and a greater sense of pride in being a Cardinal, from elementary students dreaming of their first game to seniors preparing for their final sendoff."