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College Station ISD officials say newly upgraded middle school athletic facilities are being damaged; district weighing restricted public access
Summary
College Station ISD officials reported repeated damage to new middle school tracks and turf — from dirt bikes, golf balls and dogs — two weeks after opening, and discussed tightening access, adding cameras and possible evening lockups.
College Station ISD officials told the school board at a Sept. 16 workshop that vandalism and unauthorized use have damaged newly completed middle school athletic facilities and that staff are considering restricting public access.
District facilities staff said the district opened three upgraded middle school stadiums and tracks two weeks ago but have since received repeated reports and photos of damage, including skid marks from dirt bikes, bent gates, damaged track surfacing and golf balls found on turf. "The centrifugal force that that dirt bike generates going around on the track... it rips the track surface up or it cracks the track surface," a district facilities presenter told the board.
The presenter said the district has already spent "6 to $8,000 in, 2 weeks of it being open" on repairs, and described incidents of people bending fencing, opening locked gates and letting dogs onto turf. The presenter added that coaches had called early in the morning to report fresh damage and that some repairs require cutting out and replacing chunks of track surface — work the district said is neither simple nor cheap.
Board members and staff discussed enforcement tools. Staff said the district is installing additional cameras on concession-stand roofs and deploying periwether lightning detection; they also noted existing cameras provide distance views that often do not clearly identify individuals. The presenter said some incidents recorded on older cameras still left subjects unidentifiable because of helmets, masks or distance.
Board members proposed operational and engineering options: locking gates at a set time each evening (a curfew already aligned with the city’s park curfew was mentioned), installing small pedestrian-only turnstile gates or other barriers that would block dirt bikes while allowing walkers, requiring out-of-district teams to rent facilities, and posting stronger signage that continued misuse could result in closure. One board member urged that non-district schools not have free access "without paying for them." A district staff member said the decision to close or lock facilities "technically does not require board approval," but staff planned to bring the issue back at the next meeting after collecting more data.
Legal and liability questions were raised. A staff speaker said if the facility is open to the public the police have limited authority to act and the district’s governmental immunity likely reduces liability exposure, but acknowledged there is some potential exposure if a third party sued and alleged negligence.
Staff stated they have worked with College Station Police Department at other sites where repeat break-ins occurred and said cameras help deter some but not all offenders. The presenter said the district had alerted parents and expected public notice would help with “self-policing,” but staff recommended further operational changes if damage continues.
The board asked staff to return to the next meeting with additional data and options for restricting access and enforcement. Staff said they will continue adding cameras and signage, evaluate turnstile or gate options for pedestrian access, and report back with cost and operational recommendations.
The discussion was part of a broader construction update that also covered bond projects across the district.
