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High school track opens to public on Sunday afternoons

Date: 1/16/2015


WEST SPRINGFIELD – Runners of West Springfield, rejoice.  The Parks and Recreation Department is now offering an alternative to cold Sunday sprints through the snow. 

The indoor track at the high school will be open to the public on Sundays, starting Jan. 18 until Feb. 22 from 12 to 4 p.m. 

Since the new high school opened in February 2014, residents have been requesting to use the new facilities, such as the track and the indoor pool, according to Parks and Recreation Director Victoria Conner.

Though until now, the logistics of doing so have created a roadblock for the Parks and Recreation Department financially. For now, at least, she and her department have found a way to give the residents what they have been asking for, if only for a few months.

“Because we’re into the basketball season, the school is already open we already have staff there. We’re capitalizing on the fact that we’re already in the building,” Conner said. “It’s taking advantage of the fact that we already have the school open and we already have park and rec staff in place. We’re killing two birds with one stone.”

Conner said that she realizes it is difficult to get outside and stay active during the winter months, but she hopes that residents take advantage of this to do so while they can.

Conner said she has seen some action on Facebook of people sharing the news that they can finally utilize the track. For the most part, she said, people are excited.

“We have this beautiful track that we want to allow the West Springfield residents to use,” Conner said. “Everyone’s very excited about the new high school and the new amenities it presents for the community. The feedback that we’ve gotten is people asking for it and when we’re going to do it and people excited to use it."

The indoor track is eight laps to the mile, and all residents 14 years old and up are welcome to use it. Walkers and runners must present a valid West Springfield I.D. while signing in. 
For cancellation information in the case of inclement weather, call 781-3020.