Dominique McCrary
Northeast News

Miami Dolphins player and Lincoln Prep graduate Charles Harris once played on Lincoln’s football field, and now he is giving back to improve it.

An upcoming $3.5 million renovation is headlined by a new turf football field, but also include adding more bleachers, a scoreboard, lines on the field for soccer, and the installation of a new track around the field. These modifications will allow Lincoln to host Varsity football games again.

After receiving motivation from his high school football coach, Harris was able to follow his dreams and play first at the University of Missouri, and later in the NFL. During the groundbreaking event, Harris spoke about his memories of the school and what the new field will do for the students and the community alike. Harris is donating $100,000 for the field.

“The fact that it’s getting built, that the kids will enjoy it, that’s what I care about,” Harris said.

Lincoln Prep’s head football coach, William Lowe, was not surprised about the donation from Harris because his former standout player visits the school often and has talked previously about giving back.

“When he comes in weights class and visits with our kids, it makes the NFL a little more of a reality for them,” says Coach Lowe.

Though Harris has become an inspiration for current football players at Lincoln Prep, Lowe is not necessarily pushing all of his student-athletes towards the NFL. Instead, Lowe is working to make sure that his players become better people.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new field was July 12, 2018, and they are planning to have the renovation completed by July of 2019. The Athletic Director for the Kansas City School District, James Sanders, spoke to his excitement for the new field and the 2018-2019 school year.

“It’s something special about the start of school,” said Sanders. “We implemented middle school sports four years ago, we’re starting to see the fruits of our planting of those trees.”

For young KCPS athletes, the dream of playing on a new football field at Lincoln Prep is one step closer to reality.