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Notre Dame College Prep's Bleachers to Get $400,000 Face-lift

By Justin Breen | November 26, 2014 5:59am
 Notre Dame College Prep is conducting a fundraiser to raise $400,000 to replace its stadium's old wooden bleachers, which have been taken down.
Notre Dame College Prep is conducting a fundraiser to raise $400,000 to replace its stadium's old wooden bleachers, which have been taken down.
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Notre Dame College Prep/Tom Connelly

CHICAGO — Notre Dame College Prep has raised well more than half of its $400,000 goal to update the bleachers at the school's stadium, Legends Field.

As of Tuesday afternoon, $253,586 has been raised through the Legends Field Initiative, which is replacing the stadium's former wooden bleachers with aluminum ones. The wooden bleachers have been removed, and the metal additions will be added by the spring, spokeswoman Teresa Connelly said.

"The new bleachers will create a safe and comfortable environment for our fans to utilize," said Connelly, of Norwood Park. "The school and alumni community are excited about this project."

Justin Breen says it's shocking how many students are from Chicago:

The all-boys Catholic school is in suburban Niles at 7655 W. Dempster St., but 605 of its 800 students live in Chicago, Connelly said.

Many of those students reside on the Far Northwest Side, but they also live in the Loop, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Douglas, Irving Park, North Center, Avondale, West Town, Lincoln Square, Albany Park, Rogers Park, Belmont Cragin, Uptown and Logan Square, Connelly said.

The football field has had wooden bleachers since the 1950s, Connelly said. The project is being sponsored by Notre Dame College Prep Varsity Club, whose mission is "to unite all Varsity Letter winners in promoting unity, spirit, leadership and sportsmanship for NDCP," Connelly said.

The project also will be honoring some of the school's coaches, including Joe Yonto (football), Fran Willett (football), Tony Kozole (football, track & field), Bill Casey (football), Jack Cole (football, track & field), Jim Meyer (basketball, hockey, track & field), Mike Jankowski (football, cross country, track & field). The list also includes current Notre Dame College Prep athletic director and head football coach Mike Hennessey.

"The school project of the bleacher construction is another piece in enhancing our outdoor facilities and making our football stadium one of the best around," said Hennessey, of Portage Park.

For more information on the Legends Field Initiative, click here.

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