Amazing new High School track ... but you can't use it!

Someone wrote:...I believe that when they use tax payers money to build a facility that costs over $2 million then they should make it available to town residents and not just a handful of High School athletes...

Change "athletes" to "students" in what you wrote...Do you feel the same way about the school library or the science lab or the auto shop classrooms? How about the gym the basketball team plays in or the weight room they built inside the school? Fact is that as taxpayers we pay for a lot of things that we might not be authorized to use. Now I'm not saying the track, as an outdoor facility, exactly falls in line with other school grounds facilities, but I see some parallel arguments that could be made for keeping the general public out of all school facilities except when they are allowed to be there.

In your case, if you kept the emails you exchanged with the AD that led you to believe that after cameras were installed you'd be able to use the track then use that to push the issue forward. If the AD's position has changed since your original emails push for a more thorough reason. Be prepared to attend some school board meetings to state your case, and it will help you to have some "community fitness" reasons when you talk at those meetings. But also be prepared if you go that route that the track gets locked down even tighter.

Another way to get access, offer to help out the Track and/or XC teams. As a coach, even volunteer, you should be able to get access to the track.

Locally, we don't have any problems getting onto any of the high school or other college tracks, but you gotta be smart about when you go. I won't run on them or take my team there during the school day or when teams are practicing on the infield or track (unless I talk to that coach directly). And I've also made a point to introduce myself to all the local ADs and ask if it's ok to use the track under the conditions I noted above. Plus I'll volunteer at a game here and there and say hello to the people who make these kinds of decisions and you can tell they make the connection - it's easier to get what you want that way.

Good luck!

Someone wrote:

I believe that when they use tax payers money to build a facility that costs over $2 million then they should make it available to town residents and not just a handful of High School athletes.

A) you don't know that. B) it's not that simple. Using tax dollars for something doesn't mean you're entitled to access.

Further, if they are actually not done with it, it means they're not done with it and don't have the legal access to it because they don't have occupancy.

Can you not hop the fence? Is there barbed wire? I used to live by a hs track that was enclosed but it was no problem to get in anyways.

It's beside the cop station and it's monitored by CCTV in the station according to the sign. I could chance it but maybe they might take it more seriously and charge me with trespass ... depends on what mood they're in I guess.

I love the "paid for by taxpayer money" argument. The city's police cars and ambulances were paid for by tax payer money too, but you clearly aren't allowed to use those unless you work for the police or fire departments, and then only if you have authorization. Even more mundane, all the printer paper in the school was purchased by taxpayer money, but you can't go in there and demand they give you some. Same with the track. It was built for use by the school and its teams. Period.

I enjoy it when a high school or middle school track is open to the public just like you do, but they have every right to keep the facility locked up. Your thought about the tax dollars is way off the mark.

Jump the fence, wear some sunglasses and a shady cap and do your workout. You even run there, so it's not like they can track you by your car's plate or something.