Fundraising Effort in Place to Install New Track at Acton-Boxborough

A look from afar at the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School track doesn’t tell the story. You have to actually walk the track to see the issues.

There’s peeling, cracks, weeds growing out of it and it’s warped in places.

The track needs to be replaced, and 16-year resident John Raguin is among a group of people trying to make that happen.

The track and field facility at Acton-Boxborough, which was dedicated to the memory of Richard E. Dow, is about 40 years old. It’s used heavily by students and residents, but now has safety concerns.

“It’s among the worst in the Dual County League. That’s the athletes and coaches who say that,” Raguin said. “They resurfaced it about 20 years ago. It was asphalt, then they put this layer of latex on top of it. But it’s crumbling.”

Facilities Director J.D. Head has taken notice of the issue and flagged the track as a top priority.

But the cost of such a project is in the area of $600,000.

“Our concept was, could we raise 3-to-1, private money to school money?” Raguin said. “And it’s runways, the high jump area, the pole vault area and the shot put area. It’s more than just the track itself.”

The school’s budget is about $40 million, but does not factor in the track.

Raguin and his group have taken their concerns to Superintendent Stephen Mills, Regional School Committee Chair Maria Neyland and other members.

"There was a presentation regarding the track project at our July 9th School Committee (SC) meeting.  After much discussion, it was decided that we would revisit this at our August 22nd meeting," Neyland said in a joint statement with Acton Public Schools Committee Chair Dennis Bruce. "To briefly summarize, in concept, the project does have broad support from the SC and Administration, and we are working to best move forward given the timing of the project and the constraints of the existing budget process."

“Everybody has been sympathetic,” Raguin said. “The school committee has been great.”

Raguin said FINCOM will be notified of the fundraising for the track this month.

“The reality is we’re trying to force in $150,000 (in the school budget) where it wasn’t,” Raguin said. “That has to get clawed and scratched out somewhere else.”

Should the project go through, the track and runways will be torn out and replaced with a base layer. The base layer will ensure all surfaces are level, allow proper drainage, and provide long life. The surfaces will be polyurethane, which is the most frequently used track surface for high schools in our area.  Polyurethane is a relatively inexpensive a track surface, yet provides superior durability for long life, cushion to prevent injuries, and is hypoallergenic (latex is the only less expensive surface). 

"The SC and Administration are, of course, always concerned about the safety of anyone who uses our facilities," Neyland and Bruce said. "The renovation/repair of the track has been on our list of priority capital projects. However, the plan was to use revenues from the Lower Fields, once that debt is paid, to fund the track project, which would mean it would not be addressed for a number of years." 

The project fixes drainage issues, expands the six lanes to eight for the finishing straight, makes for flat runways, and solves the huge holes in the high jump area.

“There is a belief that through some of the energy savings, that could fund the $150,000. There is some money in J.D.’s facilities budget,” Raguin said. “So between that they are hoping to come up with the $150,000. And obviously it’s my job to come up with the remaining $450,000.”

So far Raguin and his group have raised about $310,000. They would like to have the project completed before the start of the 2014 spring season.

“I’m passionate about this I’ve seen how great the sports programs are in Acton,” said Raguin, who is a Medford native. “One of the things you realize when you are here is every sport is extremely competitive. The track program is the only program where there are no cuts. You get the team experience, the camaraderie … the real learning in sports.”

Attempts to reach Head and Mills for comment on this story were unsuccessful.

"Given the success of the Lower Fields project, which was a private/public funding model similar to what the track project would be, the SC is very open looking at ways to make this project work," Neyland and Bruce said. "However, in these difficult financial times, when there is so much pressure on our operating budgets, it is very difficult to fund items outside of the budget without corresponding cuts.  The FY 2014 school and town budgets, approved at the spring Town Meetings in both Acton and Boxborough, did not include line items specifically for track repair.  The Administration and SC have worked hard to put forth budgets that are fiscally responsible and continue to provide students with a quality education; unfortunately, in doing so, there is very little surplus for other projects. 

"We of course recognize the potential savings to the taxpayers if we can make this proposed project work, and will look at all possible funding sources. In addition, we will work with the other boards of the two towns to hopefully bring this project to a successful conclusion."

To learn more about the project or make a donation, visit https://www.facebook.com/ABTrackProject.