Benton Track

[EZdoesit]

Any word on the new track at Benton? Not sure if anyone went to the meeting and heard. E

[sassyangelac]

Word is it will be open to the public with limited hours and special rules for access, which should be forthcoming next month.

[Pete Ireland]

The track was opened on August 9. The hours are 5:30 PM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday. The newspaper article I saw listed it as Monday TO Saturday, but Steve Quinn, Benton School Athletic Director, confirmed it is open Monday through Saturday.

[sassyangelac]

I ran there last night and the stink that Leigha mentioned seems to have abated--although that may be because the sun had gone down. The surface itself is as soft and springy as the track at Toad Suck though. There were probably half a dozen walkers and runners out there and another half playing football in the infield. I noticed the lights never came on but that may change as the summer winds down further.

[chris_h]

Has anybody gone by the track lately and seen if the lights were on?

[nicole]

I was going to park there today to run Benton Parkway and both the gates were locked.

[Black Stallion]

HEY ALL of you SCS of Benton Hunnicutt here stealling the thread hope you didn't mind. I REJOYCE WITH YOU ALL on your new track I do hope it will be open to you as public to take adva. of and use it use well. Respect as I know you will but use it . kepp all of us inform. AND to let us know if they leave the light on for ya for saftey pur. will I ned to go. Enjoy the TRACK.

[sassyangelac]

The latest report on the track as it has been explained to me:

The track will be open every day from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. but NOT until the electronic gate and timed lights are installed. There is no estimate on when those installations will occur but frustration has been expressed that the contractor and architects are dragging their feet.

Until then, the standard open hours of 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day EXCEPT Sunday are supposed to apply. However, I have reported that many of us have tried accessing the track during these hours and are still locked out. I have also reported that although the gate to the parking lot gets unlocked, the gates to the track do not. There is no explanation for why the gates continue to be locked during the current posted hours.

The bottom line appears to be that there is a sign telling the general public that they may use the track but there is a perpetual padlock telling them they may not. Your school board is the only governing body that can change this. I encourage you to respectfully speak up.