Prince George facing backlash over reduced public access to running track following pricey upgrades

The City of Prince George is facing growing backlash to plans to reduce public accessto a popular outdoor running track when it reopens in August.

Masich Place Stadium is receiving $4.8 million in improvements, including a resurfaced track and an artificial turf fieldthe city hopes willattract higher-profile sporting events to the community.

The city is also implementing new security measures that prevent the public fromdropping in to usethe track anytime it is not otherwise booked, as it wasable to previously.

Instead, drop-ins for the remainder of 2018 will be limited from 6:00 am to 1:00 p.m. daily, while staff isavailable to supervise.

Director of public works GinaLayte-Liston said the change is being made in order to protect the city's investment.

"When we've redeveloped this premier site ...we want to make sure it is maintained," she said.

She said other communities with similar facilities recommended the change and the city will take feedback when setting new drop-in hours in 2019.

'A PR nightmare'

The announcement prompted widespread backlash in the community, including from Coun. Brian Skakunwho saidhe knew people would be upset as soon as he was informed of the change.

"I just thought, 'Wow, that's not a good move," he said. "It's sort of a PR nightmare."

Skakunsaid he "100 per cent" supported community members,including fitness trainerKatiePaolucci,organizing against the reduced hours.

Paolucci set up an online petition asking thatMasichbe open "from dawn until dusk," calling it a "gem within the city" that allows people of all ages and abilities to exercise in a safe environment.

She contrasted it with gyms, which require a fee to useand toparks and trails which present barriers to the elderly or people with with injuries.

"I have a very bad backand walking on hard surfaces is very hard on my spine," she said."It has to be a solid, even surface."

She also said Masich is one of the few outdoor spaces with no danger of encountering wild animals or off-leash dogs.

"MasichPlace Stadium is a safe place," she said. "It was accessible toabsolutelyeverybody."

Turf wars

Reduced hours aren't the only reason the upgrades are being criticized.

The decision to replace the stadium's grass field with artificial turf has drawn the ire of the family for which MasichPlace is named.

Prince George Track and Field club founder Tom Masichand his son Billboth penned letters to the city arguing artificial turf moves the stadium away from itscore purpose: track and field.

While city officials hopethe new turf can be used by soccer and football teams including the B.C. Lions, who sometimes train in other parts of the province the Masichs say synthetic turf isunsuitable fortrack and field competitions.

"The installation of artificial turf in the infield changes this facility to a football/soccer field with a track around it," Bill Masich wrote.

"Experts in the highest levels of thesport prefer the quality of natural turf to synthetic turf."

Hope for change

While the turf is already installed, community organizer Bobby Deepaktold CBC he is working on a letter-writing campaign to get councillors to restore Masich'sprevious drop-in policy.

"We want to grow this opposition to the point that our elected officials will have no choice but to side with the people they represent and who have been elected for that purpose," he said.

Council will receive a report explainingthe changes Monday evening.

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