School boards seeking community help for new Sarnia track

Until it was demolished to make way for a helipad at Sarnia’s hospital, a track at the former St. Pat’s secondary school property on East Street continued being used by the school, a school board executive says.

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But since the track was demolished about two years ago, a “dirt track” at the school’s Rapids Parkway location hasn’t been cutting it, said board associate director and treasurer Amy Janssens.

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“We had lots of teachers telling us they wanted to do better for the students, and we heard them,” she said.

After about a year of consultation with coaches, principals and others, the St. Clair Catholic District school board in June approved a $1.07-million project to build an asphalt oval at the St. Pat’s site — St. Pat’s and St. Christopher schools merged in 2014 at the former St. Christopher site. The combined school was named St. Patrick’s.

The Brandon Contractors project is expected to finish, weather permitting, by the end of November, Janssens said, noting the track is also 50-per-cent owned by Conseil Scolaire Catholique Providence — the French board’s St. Francis Xavier high school also makes use of the track — and the French board is covering seven per cent of those project costs, based on enrollment.

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They’re not stopping there though, Janssens said.

The board, even though it doesn’t have the funding, also is proceeding with a $435,000 rubberized track surfacing contract, awarded in September to Playteck Enterprises, in the spring, she said.

“We didn’t have it ready and budgeted for, but we’re going to do it regardless because we know it’s important for the kids” for helping athletes train at a higher level, as well as for safety and track durability, she said , noting it’s an unusual approach.

“But the board is really serious about trying to make sure we have a really state-of-the-art track for these athletes that are up and coming in Sarnia-Lambton.”

Donors are being asked to chip in and cover those costs, she said.

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If those don’t materialize, the board will use funds for other capital projects, from its school renewal allocation fund, and delay those other projects, she said.

Other track wish-list items, for which the board also is seeking donations, include upgrading the track color to green — the color for St. Pat’s and the Franco-Ontarian flag — adding electrical and Wi-Fi services, a finish line camera, speakers, a sound system, hurdles, high jump mats, take-off boxes for long and triple jump, a shot-put landing area and circle, movable soccer goal posts, bleachers, an artificial turf field for durability and all-season use, and a water bottle filling station.

The total fundraising ask is $1 million.

Hopes are to make it a “world-class facility” available to students and athletes throughout the community, board officials said in a news release.

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It’s also a bit of an homage to the former, similar-caliber, 1996-built East Street track, Janssens said.

“When the coaches talk … they’re passionate” about that former facility and the chance to recreate something like it for students, she said.

“They’re looking for these other add-ons, which they know help their athletes get to the next level, and I trust them,” she said, adding would-be donors also can talk to the coaches about the project.

Hopes are to have donors cover the bulk of the cost, and hold fundraisers for the remainder, she said.

“So, if there’s a few donors out there who have an interest and really maybe have an attachment or ran track themselves, they might want to be part of this,” she said.

Anyone interested can reach Janssens by calling 519-627-6762, or emailing [email protected].

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