Edmond high school closes running tracks (OK)

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.newsok.com/edmond-high-schoo ... le/3386887

Edmond high school closes running tracks
Schools: People have been breaking rules, athletic equipment, officials say


BY JESSE OLIVAREZ
Published: July 22, 2009

EDMOND — People who use the running tracks that wind around Edmond high school football fields will have to find a new place to walk — at least for a few weeks.
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Edmond school officials have decided to close access to the tracks for the remainder of the summer after school officials found broken pieces of track equipment and several reports of people disregarding rules for using the facilities.

Mike Nunley, the district’s athletic director, said damage to the track equipment totals more than $18,000. He said the tracks will reopen to residents sometime after the school year starts Aug. 18.

With school staffs away during the summer break, Nunley said it is hard for school officials to keep a close eye on what happens at the district’s three football fields.

The tracks, which are usually open from 7 a.m. to dusk, are only to be used for walking or jogging, and users are asked to stay off of the track’s two inside lanes. Signs posted on the fences also ask people to stay off the football fields.

Despite the signs, school officials said they have caught people using the football fields for such things as playing flag football, lacrosse games and for baseball practice. In another instance, a group was having a pole vault competition with track equipment left on the field, officials said.

Nunley said the right shoe has to be worn on the high-dollar turf. If the turf gets torn up, it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace.

Nunley said the district is working with Edmond police to determine who is responsible for several incidents of vandalism that resulted in broken hurdles and damage to a pole vault pit.

[vault3rb0y]

Thats terrible but kind of funny.... i cant imagine what i would do if i owned the place and i walk up one day to find a pole vault competition underway.