DES MOINES, Iowa – Des Moines Public Schools and Lincoln High School staff, students and families gathered at Lincoln High’s new $4.5 million track and field for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Praveen Bannikatti, Lincoln High School Principal, said that the new stadium is the perfect way to kick off the school year. 

“Part of our motto this year, our purpose is to imagine all possibilities to transform our community and the lives of it. And so this is our first sort of step into that and finally have some high-class facilities to make that happen for our kids,” Bannikatti said. 

The track and field cost $4.5 million to build. Similar construction projects are taking place at North and Hoover High Schools, which are expected to be finished in October.

The project at North High School cost $3.9 million, and the project at Hoover cost $4.25 million. Prairie Meadows donated $900,000 to DMPS to be split between the projects. 

Bannikatti said that he is thankful for the community’s support of the track and field. 

“It’s wonderful to see how people rallied behind Lincoln High School and put their heads together to be creative with their wallets together, to be creative and produce this wonderful facility for our families and our kids,” Bannikatti said.

The track still needs bleachers, but will use temporary ones till permanent ones are procured. The new track and field will be put to the test when the DMPS 2025-26 school year begins on Monday, August 25th.