MILFORD, Ohio — Milford Schools is planning a new building at Charity Lucas soccer field that would add permanent restrooms, team locker rooms and an updated concession stand, the district said.
The project, supported through a partnership with the Milford Athletic Boosters, is intended to address a long-standing gap at the field, where students currently lack nearby changing facilities and the site relies on portable toilets for athletes and spectators, according to the district.
Plans call for two team locker rooms, each with 25 lockers and team benches, along with separate public restrooms for men and women, the district said. The concession stand would include exterior service windows, food preparation space and sinks, and a separate storage and mechanical room would house equipment and building systems. Heating, air conditioning and ventilation would allow the building to be used year-round.
The design also includes provisions for fiber internet connectivity and security cameras, which would allow for electronic payments at the concession stand and added security coverage, according to the district. The building is also intended to give student-athletes and coaches a secure indoor space to take shelter during severe weather that occurs during practices or games.
The district said the project would be funded with remaining dollars from the voter-approved bond levy that financed the middle school construction project, including investment earnings on those funds, along with a contribution from the Milford Athletic Boosters. The middle school project came in under budget, leaving bond funds available for other eligible construction and facility work, the district said. Because the money originated from the construction bond, it is restricted to eligible building projects and cannot be used for staff salaries, classroom supplies or other day-to-day operating expenses.
The district also addressed what happens when it earns more interest on invested bond proceeds than it pays in interest on the bonds themselves, a difference known as arbitrage. Federal rules may require the district to pay some of those extra earnings to the IRS, and the district said any such arbitrage payment would not be a refund to Milford taxpayers and would not return the earnings to the community. The district said it must follow applicable federal requirements in determining which earnings it can retain and use toward eligible construction.
Beyond serving Milford’s student-athletes and fans, the improved facility is expected to support rentals outside of district athletic events, creating a potential source of additional revenue, according to the district.
A construction timeline for the project has not yet been established. The district said it will share updates as planning progresses.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Milford Exempted Village School District.