Memorial Stadium track renovation faces delays

El Dorado School District’s athletic director Phillip Lansdell released a statement updating the public on the progress of the track’s renovation Thursday via the district’s Facebook pages.

According to the statement, the renovation started in June and was closed to the public so crews could remove the old surface and install a new asphalt base in late July.

“Once the asphalt was installed there was a twenty eight day curing period. Because of the weather and the approaching football season the new track surface will not be installed until after the football season,” Lansdell wrote. “Once the process of laying the new surface begins the track will have to be closed again for a minimum of 14 days.”

Due to the track’s placement, Beynon Sports Surfaces, a company that makes synthetic athletic surfaces around the country, will schedule a time after football season to put the new surface on the Memorial Stadium track, Superintendent Jim Tucker said.

“During football season, it’s impossible to stay off the track for fourteen days. They practice football on that field and to get to the field they have to walk across that track,” Tucker said.

The track is still open for walkers to exercise on the asphalt surface througout the day, with the exception of athletic events and when someone rents the facilities, Lansdell said.

However, he said that walkers should take caution when the Wildcats’ football teams are practicing on the Memorial Stadium field.

The athletic director said, “They usually walk on the outside lanes during practice, but the surface isn’t down.”

According to the statement, items like gum, candy and oily products could cause delays when putting the new surface down. Keeping food and drink away helps with the cleanliness and surface adherance of the track surface to the asphalt base.

“Thanks for your patience and support,” Lansdell wrote.