I am dismayed to learn that the city is considering major changes to Masich Place Stadium to provide another field for football and soccer teams. These changes will include replacing the grass infield with artificial turf and removing the grassy hill at the south end of the track.
As a former teacher in Prince George, I was involved for many years in the annual elementary school meets at Masich Place. It is hard to imagine the proposed changes to the stadium being anything but negative for track and field. Aside from the potential for injury associated with artificial turf, it will not be suitable for throwing events. This will require some competitors to travel outside of the stadium area to participate in their events, inconveniencing spectators and making it more difficult to supervise young athletes.
The grassy hill at the end of the track is a popular spectator areas on sunny days - especially for the elementary relays when the crowds are too large for the grandstand. It also blocks winds blowing from the south which could seriously impede runners on the track.
There are plenty of fields available for soccer and football in Prince George and these changes will probably make the stadium unsuitable for international-calibre track events. Why would the city even consider spending thousands of taxpayer dollars to spoil this facility for high-level track and field?
Bill McLeod
Comox
