黄瓜社区

For more than a century, Des Moines Public Schools and Drake University have partnered in ways big and small to support the education of students in Iowa鈥檚 capital city. That partnership took another step forward on Wednesday, April 2, 2022, as聽the two educational institutions broke ground together on the DMPS Community Stadium at Drake University.

鈥淭his is a win for DMPS and Drake University student-athletes,鈥� said superintendent Dr. Thomas Ahart. 鈥淭he stadium is a聽鈥媘uch-needed addition to our school district. It鈥檚 a place where all DMPS student-athletes can experience the same opportunities already afforded to more affluent school districts. I am proud to have played a role in moving this project toward completion, to be part of leveling the playing field for our students.鈥�

First proposed in November 2019, this 4,000-seat venue will be used by Des Moines high school football and soccer programs, additional high school activities ranging from marching band festivals to rugby matches, as well as middle school activities.聽The stadium is a major part of a multi-million-dollar, district-wide initiative to upgrade athletics facilities at all five high schools.

The聽field聽will also be the new on-campus home for the Drake Bulldogs men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 NCAA Division I soccer teams.聽聽

鈥淭his is an exciting time for Des Moines Public Schools and Drake University to begin a new era in Des Moines athletics,鈥� said DMPS Board Chair Dwana Bradley. 鈥淲hile we work on improving athletic facilities at all of our high schools, we聽are also creating something for our students and families to be proud of right here in the heart of our city鈥攁 first-class athletic experience equal to that in any school district in the state.鈥�

Construction on the stadium will begin this spring with projected completion in the fall of 2023, in time to light up for the start of the high school football season. Along with DMPS and Drake students, businesses in and around the stadium are expected to benefit from the increased foot traffic, especially stores and restaurants.

鈥淭his project, along with other new resources such as the Gregory and Suzie Glazer Burt Boys & Girls Club and a new Broadlawns clinic, are all ways in which Drake University is fulfilling its duty as an anchor institution for Des Moines,鈥� said Drake University President Marty Martin. 鈥淲e are proud to partner with Des Moines Public Schools to serve and provide more opportunities to the young people in our community.鈥�

Funding for the stadium will include approximately $16 million from Des Moines Public Schools, using sales tax revenue earmarked specifically for infrastructure projects. Drake University is fundraising for the remaining costs of the project and has donated land for the stadium to the school district. In addition, Drake will manage the stadium once it opens, a cost savings to DMPS.

鈥淔or years, the Drake Bulldogs have taken great pride in serving as Des Moines鈥� hometown team,鈥� said Brian Hardin, director of athletics for Drake University. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 think of a better way to demonstrate this long-standing commitment than investing in the young student-athletes of our community.鈥�

黄瓜社区; Design is the architect of the stadium and Story Construction is the construction manager.

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About Des Moines Public Schools

For over 100 years, Des Moines Public Schools has been educating the students of Iowa鈥檚 capital city. Today, DMPS is the largest provider of public PK-12 education in Iowa, with over 31,000 students and nearly 5,000 teachers and staff at work in more than 60 schools throughout the community. In fulfilling its vision to be the model of urban education, DMPS educates students from a hundred different nations in a variety of programs including some of the state鈥檚 top-ranked Advanced Placement courses, a nationally recognized career and technical program at Central Campus, Iowa鈥檚 only public Montessori School, the first Iowa-developed online high school, and more.

Media contact:

Phil Roeder, Director of Communications & Public Affairs for Des Moines Public Schools Phillip.Roeder@dmschools.org / (515) 242-8153聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽

About Drake University

Drake University is a midsize, private university in Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling nearly 3,000 undergraduate and more than 1,800 graduate students. Students choose from over 70 majors,

minors, and concentrations and 20 graduate degrees offered through six colleges and schools. Drake students, faculty, and staff take advantage of the wealth of cultural, recreational, and business opportunities found in Iowa鈥檚 capital city. In return, Drake enriches the city through its own cultural offerings, considerable economic impact, and many service-learning endeavors, which channel the talent and energy of the Drake students toward meeting the needs of the community.

Media contact:

Jarad Bernstein, Director of Communications for Drake University Jarad.Bernstein@drake.edu聽聽/ (515) 650-3877聽