PDHS fundraising for a new track and field

By Casandra Turnbull

A multi million-dollar upgrade to the track and field at Paris District High School is in the works

As the school body, educators and the community must raise funds to contribute to the project, Paris District High School is hosting a spaghetti dinner on Thursday, April 25th and you’re invited (event details on community calendar page 4)! But what is the new track project? Here’s a refresher from a story the Paris Independent published in November 2023.

Rafal Wyszynski, Superintendent of Business & Treasurer for the Grand Erie District School Board, was before the Administration & Operations Committee last November to present the $3 million plan to revitalize the aging track and field behind the Grand River Street North school.

While the outdoor field has certainly served its purpose and is the grounds for countless memories over the decades, a new one is required to keep up with the growing student population and to keep up with today’s functionality and athletic demands

Wyszynski presented a list of inadequacies and restrictions that led to the decision to redevelop the sports field. The current format of the track has only four lanes. Lately, PDHS has received an increase in requests from elementary schools to use the PDHS track The current restriction of only four lanes, none of which are lined, also limits the range of events that can take place, often leading to slower paced activities.

The current dirt/stone track is not an ideal surface for a secondary school track It requires constant maintenance, which becomes especially challenging after rainfall when footprints tend to solidify into the surface rendering the track unusable and unsafe. With the growing community, an expanding number of community members are utilizing the track for recreational walks. In addition to the track, the current state of jumping pits, runways, and throwing space (shot put, discus) are in poor shape, and must be addressed.

Paris District High School student body is fundraising for a much-needed brand new track and field behind the school. One upcoming fundraiser is a spaghetti dinner at the high school on Thursday, April 25, everyone is welcome to attend and support the cause.

The track is important to the staff and nearly 850 students at PDHS

It is used for physical education classes, fitness classes, Relay for Life fundraisers, extra-curricular activities, and community use. The current state and format of the track does not reflect the true potential of the academic and recreational use, according to the school’s board presentation. It went on to say the acquisition of a new track would represent an opportunity to enhance the prominence of PDHS, positioning the school grounds to also be a community hub

Grand Erie District School Board is covering $1 million of the projected $3 million costs but the school must raise $2 million by June 30, 2024. Construction is targeted to start July 1, 2024. If the proposed $3 million plan moves forward, the new track would include 6 synthetic lanes to conform to International Amateur Athletic Federation and Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association dimensions, the grass field would be converted into artificial turf, lining would be in place for CFL football, full sized soccer, field hockey and cross field soccer, there would be a new high jump apron, long and triple jump facility, a new scoreboard, school logos in the end zones and centre field and LED lighting for the field and spectator seating for up to 200 people.