High school field, track project to begin in spring

Construction of a new turf field and track at Grafton High School is slated to begin in spring after the district achieved a benchmark fundraising goal for its Enhancing Our Future project.

Since launching the project in 2018, the district has raised $3.9 million through fundraising efforts, large donations from families associated with the district or Grafton and individual donors.

While the district’s goal is to ultimately raise about $5 million, the project has hit its Phase 2 benchmark of $3.75 million, an amount that will ensure the district has a new turf field and track by the fall 2023 season.

Phase 3 of the project will provide an updated concession stand and restrooms at the soccer area and Phase 4 will add digital signage on the scoreboard, update lights and achieve other capital improvements.

Supt. Jeff Nelson said community pride is the driving force behind the response the district has seen since launching the Enhancing Our Future project.

“It’s really been the pride people have in the Grafton School District and the experiences they’ve had as student athletes themselves or their family members had,” he said.

The district recently received a $100,000 donation from the Forever Fallucca Foundation, a charitable group created by the Fallucca family, which has had a child graduate from Grafton High School and has another enrolled in kindergarten in the district. The donation will secure that the family business, Palermo Villa Inc., is featured on the new football stadium scoreboard.

The Grafton School Board accepted the donation during its Dec. 20 meeting, where board members thanked  the Fallucca family for their contributions to the district’s athletic program over the years.

The family previously made contributions toward purchasing the soccer scoreboard.

“Our many thanks for this generous donation and their many years of support for all the programs in the district,” School Board President Paul Lorge said.

Another major contribution came from Ted Kellner, who made a $750,000 matching donation in November 2020.

Nelson said Kellner grew up in Grafton and wanted to see the community flourish for future generations.

“We’ll be forever grateful to him,” Nelson said.

Other contributions include $65,000 from Port Washington State Bank, $60,000 from the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club, $10,000 from Oasis Healthcare and another $120,000 from individual donors.

District booster clubs have also made significant contributions. The Grafton Gridiron Club donated $200,000 toward the project and the Grafton High School Athletic Booster Club gave $50,000.

“It’s been a great response from individuals and family members, both current and former Blackhawk families,” Nelson said.