Central Park in New York City has over 20 softball fields that get used from around May until September. The rest of the year they sit empty.
Central Park has 30 tennis courts, over a dozen basketball courts, beach volleyball courts, two ice rinks, a pool, a dozen handball courts, rock climbing walls, and over a dozen playgrounds.
Central Park has 0 quarter mile running tracks.
(There is a .2 mile, gravel, unmarked, assymetrical loop near the north end of the park, but it's rarely used by runners and is in a part of the park you would not want to be hanging out at after the sun goes down).
With all the resources NYRR has at its disposal and it's alleged mission of increasing access to the sport of running to everyone, why have they not pushed the Parks Department to build a decent .25 mile 8 lane track in their own backyard?
The track would be used non-stop throughout the year. Local schools could hold meets there. Running clubs and individuals could hold workouts. The infield could be used as a soccer field / softball field / whatever else the Parks Department wants to stick in it.
With all the recreation options available in Central Park, it makes no sense to not have a standard .25 mile track.