Note: This was my first extended writing on the issue in 2006
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The Emperor's New Clothes- Part II
Statement to the Alexandria City School Board
About the City's Running Tracks
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My name is Gary Carr. I am the owner of Gary Photo, and a resident of the City for more that 20 years. I have two school-age children in the system- one in the eighth grade and one in kindergarten.
I have been along time advocate of governmental agencies – especially the schools, recreation centers and libraries- working together collaboratively to nurture our children’s development. I come here believing I represent the interest of the more than ten thousand students- public and private- in the city.
I recognized long ago, that while you can’t solve all of the problems in the world, it should not prevent you from trying to solve one. My one issue today is running tracks. Or more directly the lack thereof, and the inadequate solutions that are being proposed. While I commend you for the recent initiatives to actually fund the “restoration” of the running track at T.C. Williams, it does not go far enough. This city does not need one restored track- it needs three. One at the high school and one at each middle school. One of these tracks should be built to competition level, and fully outfitted with the most modern track equipment, either at the schools or somewhere else in the city.
I will begin my comments the by paraphrasing the book “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Anderson, “but he has no clothes on” a child finally exclaimed to the chagrin of the nude emperor. I am sure you have have had this tale read to you, read it to someone else, or know the story.
How do I relate that story with what is going on with the tracks in this City? Well, I will contend that Alexandria is naked when it come to tracks, while we are being told by the tailor it will soon be fully clothed. There are currently no quality track facilities in the city for public use- none. Alexandria is a city of more that 130,000 population without an accessible competition level 8-lane track facility. While we are told we will soon have a fine wardrobe for our schools, in fact outside we are bare.
Currently we have two projects under-construction or consideration that portent to address the running track issue. They do not. They are undergarments at best.
One is the new Parker-Gray Stadium at T.C. Williams High School. The 2008 ACPS Capital Improvement Budget plans currently calls for the “restoration” of the 6 lane track there, with no mention of the middle schools or any other track facilities. Six lanes may be appropriate for practice and training, but not a real competition. When our students compete at the “Meet” level, they are always hosted at an 8-lane track. For most children in the local region, public or private school, the only time they ever see an 8-lane facility is at a completion. This puts them all at a distinct disadvantage. This is especially true in the 200 meter and 400 meter races which have staggered starts. You need to practice in the same type of arena in which you will play. An 8-lane track benefits every child in the community, from the handicapped and disadvantaged, to the most affluent or potential Olympians. I could even cite many Standards of Learning and other educational benefits (such as why some races over 100 meters have offset starting places, the conversion of meters to feet, or time over distance measurements- with real world applications).
Rightfully, the 8-lane track belongs at T.C. Williams High School. Arguments against placing 8-lanes there is the need to make the playing field smaller or perhaps lose some seating capacity. That should not be an obstacle. Field size is not effected by the track the inner dimension is standard. The loss of space around the perimeter amounts to 3 yards. Ten feet makes a world of difference. Because it is often said something can’t be done, and it you don’t know any better, you conclude they are correct. I contend that it can be done, why it should be done and how. (See diagram) Bleachers could be lowered and extend further around the perimeter. Barriers could be erected where necessary. Make it tighter, but make it complete. If it does require closer quarters, when visiting teams come to Alexandria, they will know what it means to have home-field advantage. To those who will object to “having it in their back yard”, I ask you look at the good it provides to the greater community.
CONTINUED IN PART 2
