Community urges preservation as district outlines sale and demolition of Laramie Athletic Fields

Community members pressed the Albany County School District #1 board on the future of Laramie Athletic Fields on April evening during public comment and a superintendent briefing.

Multiple speakers told trustees the stadium and track are a widely used community resource. Marla Slater, a longtime Laramie resident, said the site provides accessible recreation and supports Special Olympics and other community users. “We need to account for those folks,” she said, noting the track’s role for wheelchair users and other people with access needs.

Jana Heisler White asked the board to expand community involvement in decisions about the site and explore partnerships that could preserve public use, referencing other local examples where school property was repurposed with city or nonprofit partners. Sarah Mason asked whether the district had considered selling or partnering with a nonprofit or the city to maintain public access, and whether there is a cost analysis or timeline for upgrading middle school facilities that would receive displaced athletics.

Eric Boss — who said he started a petition that attracted about 1,420…