CHICAGO — Student athletes cheered in Maple Park Monday night after the Kaneland School Board unanimously passed a motion to replace the high school’s hazardous track.
The vote comes after several severe injuries on the track this season.
Initially built in 1976, the almost 50-year-old track is riddled with divets and has not been resurfaced since the mid-90s, causing parents of track and field athletes to say it has become a hazard.
Most schools resurface their tracks every five to 10 years.
“I’m very concerned. So much so that I spoke at the board meeting last year and questioned the school board about what happens when someone gets injured and then this year we’ve had two rather severe injuries,” parent Karl Moos told WGN News on Thursday, April 25.
Last year, the board decided to reallocate funds approved for fixing it to repave bus parking lots. Facing growing community outrage, however, the Kaneland School Board reversed that decision on Monday.
The board approved up to $1.4 million for the project. The goal is to have the new track complete by mid-September.