ALABASTER – Alabaster City Schools has partnered with the city of Alabaster and Shelby County Commission to complete a project that was included in the design of Thompson High School.

ACS Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said additional fields were included in the design of THS and the land for those fields were prepped and graded, but the fields were never completed. Now, with this three-way partnership in place, the project is back on the table.

The scope of the project includes one large soccer field and two smaller ones. The total cost is projected to be $625,000. According to the agreement between the entities, ACS will provide $250,000 toward the project, the city of Alabaster will contribute $200,000 and the Shelby County Commission will pay $175,000.

Vickers said he hopes to have the fields completed by the end of spring.

“This is one opportunity that we all felt strongly about,” he said. “Having these fields, plus the other two and the football stadium will allow us to do more things like hosting tournaments.”

The new fields will be multipurpose, said Alabaster Board of Education President Adam Moseley. The fields will be able to accommodate layouts for lacrosse, soccer, football and other athletic events at THS.

The board is discussing the possibility of starting a lacrosse team at THS, and if that happens, these fields would also be utilized by that sport. The soccer programs at Thompson Middle School and at THS are also expanding.

“Field space and gym space is at a premium,” Moseley said. “Anything extra is needed.”