Crestwood committee: no home track meets this year as district weighs track, turf and field repairs

The co-curricular committee told the board that the district will not host home track meets this year because of the track's current condition and related safety concerns.

Committee members said vendors have observed bubbling in the stadium turf — likely ice beneath the surface — and that the turf may be nearing the end of its useful life. Officials said a vendor told them the issue may settle as it thaws, and the district will continue monitoring and make repairs if needed. Because home meets were removed from the schedule, teams will travel to other schools' facilities, which will increase transportation costs.

The committee also discussed storm damage to the baseball batting cage and the need to assess whether repairs meet the district's insurance-deductible threshold. Members raised safety concerns for pitchers warming up near spectators and asked athletic staff to identify safer warm-up locations.

Board members and staff discussed the long-range question of whether to make the track regulation size; they were warned that expanding the track could trigger a months-long engineering and permitting process (including potential wetlands and retaining-wall work) and carry six-figure planning costs. One presenter estimated an evaluation and engineering study alone could range from about $30,000 to $170,000 and that hauling in full replacement or expansion work would be substantially more.

The committee said it will explore repair options to make the track safe for practice and will continue to evaluate turf repair versus replacement timing and costs. In the near term, athletic staff are arranging for home meets to be hosted at other schools and for travel logistics to be covered in budget planning.