Students, staff, city and school district dignitaries, and Vikings celebrate the new home field at Como Park Senior High School. Photo by Mike Krivit
By Eric Erickson
Como’s new turf field was dedicated on Oct. 18 at the end of the school day with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a ceremonial presentation from the Vikings.
The student body and staff assembled on the new green surface while the marching band, JROTC cadets and student athletes from the fall sports teams marched around the track to kick off the event.
Remarks were delivered by Principal Theresa Neal, Assistant Superintendent Theresa Battle and SPPS Board of Education Chair Jon Schumacher. Comments by Brad Madson, Vikings executive director of community relations, and former linebacker E. J. Henderson, who now serves as the team’s youth football manager followed.
Then the ribbon was cut and the ceremonial big check was presented.
The $250,000 contribution from the Vikings was awarded to Como following the successful pursuit of a grant through the NFL Foundation Grassroots Program. Como’s grant application received enthusiastic support from the community. Many partner organizations and civic leaders helped the cause by writing compelling letters that strengthened the case for the major facility upgrade.
The project is not completely finished, as additional bleachers, concessions area, a press box and speaker system are still needed. But the field itself is a striking, transformative change to the school grounds.
“Look how beautiful this space is and how well it represents who we are,” said Principal Neal. “This is really about our community coming together to make something happen that we’re so well-deserving of.”
You can read more about Como’s first teams to use the new field here.
