City officials expect to spend about $275,000 to replace the running track at the Fairview High School athletic field. (West Life photos by Kevin Kelley)

City to replace running track at Fairview High School
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published July 28, 2010

City Council expects to spend about $275,000 to redo the running track at the athletic field adjacent to Fairview High School.

Council members unanimously approved the expenditure at a special meeting July 21. The city will begin accepting bids over the next two weeks.

While much of the track is in good shape, several spots in front of the home stands have buckled, causing a safety hazard for athletes. Fairview Park City Schools Superintendent Brion Deitsch told West Life high school track officials have commented to school officials about the safety hazard in recent years.

Over the summer, the city had 10 borings made at various points on the track to check the condition below the surface.

According to city architect Jeff Grusenmeyer, the borings revealed the track has been resurfaced several times. Two layers of asphalt, measuring 5 to 7 inches, were placed upon a clay base years ago. A 1-inch rubber track was placed on that. Later, another inch of asphalt was laid as a surface for the current latex rubber track.

Adding a new layer now is not feasible, Grusenmeyer said, as the track will then be too high compared to the surrounding area.

“That track has lived its life,” he said.

The track has buckled and been patched in several places, causing a safety hazard to runners.

Grusenmeyer recommended against simply removing the current latex rubber track and replacing it. The best course of action, he said, is to remove the top track, the top 1-inch layer of asphalt and the rubber track beneath this.

The new track would be a polyeurothane surface with a structural spray. Such a surface is a little more expensive but lasts longer, Grusenmeyer said.

Grusenmeyer said the city considered six options, with cost estimates ranging from $159,000 to $318,000.

Mayor Eileen Patton agreed with the conclusion not to seek a short-term fix.

“Someday we’ll be passing on our problems,” the mayor told council. “How many problems have been passed down to us? We don’t want to do that.”

The city will pay for the repairs with money received in a bonding company settlement after the first Gemini Center pool contractor was fired after alleged breech of contract.

According to Finance Director Lisa Rocco, that settlement money, currently in the recreation department construction fund, can legally be used only for permanent improvements or the repayment of debt for the recreation center.

Construction work will take six to eight weeks, including a two-week period during which the new layer of asphalt must settle, Grusenmeyer said.

The mayor said that in the future, the city may restrict access to the athletic field, especially the track, to reduce wear and tear.

Patton said the city asked the Fairview Park City Schools if they would contribute to the costs of the track repairs. According to Deitsch, board members declined.

Although the school district is by far the most frequent user of the track, ownership of the athletic field was legally transferred to the city under the Gemini Project contract.

Grusenmeyer noted the city would have to invest funds in the track at some point anyway because the contract required regular maintenance of the athletic field.

The new track will be red instead of black, which Grusenmeyer said will give it a longer life because it absorbs heat better. The new track surface will also better match Fairview High School’s team colors, Deitsch noted.