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Committee weighs opening high-school track and tennis courts to public; staffing and maintenance costs cited
Summary
Members urged the district to open East Providence High School's outdoor track and tennis courts more broadly, while administrators said summer and weekend access would require staff to secure the facilities or a partnership with city departments for locks and lights.
School committee members pushed to open East Providence High School's outdoor track and tennis courts to the public during nonschool hours, citing prior promises to taxpayers and comparisons with neighboring towns.
Committee members said local families currently drive out of city to use courts and tracks and argued the community should be able to use the new facilities. Administrators said the track is open during the school year until 11 p.m. when staff are available to secure it; during summer months the district currently opens the track and courts roughly from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. when custodial staff are on duty.
Officials warned that opening the site later into evenings and on weekends would require added staffing or a partnership for unlocking and relocking, additional lighting and trash pickup; those costs were not quantified. Several members suggested coordinating with the city's Parks & Recreation department to provide weekend or evening coverage. Members also discussed signage and the risk of vandalism and agreed to pilot expanded hours if staffing support can be secured.
No formal vote was taken; committee members asked administration to explore options with municipal partners and report back.
