Residents Protest Closure of High School Track

Residents from the community came together at the Laguna Beach Board of Education meeting last week to protest the district’s recent decision to close the high school track to the public during school hours.

The closure was prompted by safety concerns, according to Supt. Sherine Smith.

Trustees voted in favor of the closure at the end of 2010 and the public was notified that as of Jan. 1, the track would no longer be available for use during the school day or during school events.

Resident Michael Wilkes argued at the meeting on Tuesday that the field is popular with residents and asked the board to reconsider its decision.

“Laguna is lacking an open recreational space,” Wilkes said.  “The track is a facility that we, as taxpayers, all contributed to [financing] and should be able to use.”

Among the nine other protestors were avid runners who said they favor a safe no-traffic zone, athletes with injuries who said they use the track because of its soft rubber surface, mothers of young children who seek a stroller-friendly place to walk, as well as elderly people who use the field for exercise and as a gathering place.

Some residents, including Peter Navarro, said they did not have a proper understanding of what prompted the decision. Others said that while they appreciated the district’s efforts to keep the campus safe, they didn’t think it was necessary to close the track in such a small community as Laguna Beach.

Although Smith said she sympathized with the residents, she said the safety of the students was her top priority. She said that when people enter the track and field area, they have access to other parts of campus, which puts the school at risk.

“The pros and cons of having public access to the track were carefully considered," she said.  “It is important for us to be proactive rather than be placed in the position of being reactive ... it is our duty to minimize risk."

The community is allowed access to the track when school is not in session.