The hours of operation for Derr Track have caused some complaints from the club cross country and track team.
The newly renovated track was opened Jan. 14 and is accessible to students, faculty and PE classes from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays. After 2 p.m., the track is reserved for the track and field team for their practices. The track is closed on weekends.
Christopher Cook, a senior in biological engineering and the president of the cross country and track team, said he has a problem with operating hours of the new facility and with the University’s policy of charging people who want to practice on the track.
“If the University managed the track like they did in the past, I think that could help,” Cook said. “Also, just have students stay out of the way of the track team, but don’t restrict access to the track.”
According to David Horning, senior associate athletics director, the current operating hours for the track are the same as in the past. He said that prior to the renovations, the track was closed on the weekends but was left unlocked. He said the new track complex is a facility that can no longer be left unmonitored.
“We put lots of time and effort into this facility and want to keep it nice,” Horning said.
Horning said that there are no plans to monitor the track on the weekends so the public could use it.
Dan Smith, a junior in business management and vice president of the club cross country and track team, said he is excited about the new facility but also unhappy about the operating hours.
“I think that the track is a great addition to the University,” Smith said. “But I think the hours should be extended to give the general public more access since many people are in class during the times it’s open.”
Smith suggested that the University do an online poll to get an accurate reading of student opinions about the track operating hours.
“It would be good to hear what the students on campus have to say about the operating hours at the track,” Smith said. “Then we could come up with a solution that benefits everyone.”
According to Cook, the club cross country and track team practices on the intramural fields. He said that he has yet to hear back from the University about practice times for the team on the track.
“It’s hard to judge actual distances on the field and our sprinters would really benefit if they practiced on the track,” Smith said. “We have a good cross country team but it’s hard to get people for track when we don’t really have the tools for them to practice.”
Horning said the University will work with anyone who has a complaint about the operating hours if they bring it forward.
“We will continue to work through these issues like we have the 30 years that we’ve had the track,” Horning said. “We want to try to meet everyone’s demands.”
