The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer Fifty-thousand dollars came at the right time, through grants, for the Town of Creighton as they were able to pave the Oval of Dreams running track. Surrounding the Creighton Community Soccer Field, the track was set in place last year for community use. Originally left unpaved, the track was meant to stay in that condition until a later date. Due to two grants, one from Hudbay Minerals and another from the Community Vitality Grant, the $50,000 paving was covered. Channa Senyk, recreation director for the Town of Creighton, said she always hoped the track would be resurfaced but wasn't sure when it would happen. The pavement has been on the track for the majority of the summer and Senyk says residents are taking full advantage of it. "The girls from the roller derby (league) are practicing on it, people are running and it's being well used," she said. Previous to the paving, the track and field team from Creighton Community School was using the track for their practices. 'Difference' "We even noticed a difference last year, even when it wasn't paved, and just being able to run corners and know how far they are running," said Creighton Community School running coach Ryan Trumbley. Trumbley, who used to have athletes running from particular distances in town, says having the track has helped them improve their abilities. In the future, Senyk says there are plans to have lanes drawn on the track. At 21 feet wide, there is potentially enough room on the track for seven lanes, as each lane requires three feet. Though the Kodiak track team uses the Oval of Dreams for practice, both Senyk and Trumbley stress the track is open to the public. Senyk says she hopes to see initiatives like a walking group start. "That's my goal, to invite seniors out for a walk. It's a bright area that is level and away from traffic," she said. With the upgrades to the Oval of Dreams, there are now opportunities for the community as well as the school to host small running events. Though there isn't field equipment, such as javelin or discus, there is enough space to host running events. With the Oval of Dreams combined with the soccer field, and near the spray pool, basketball and tennis courts, playground and skate park, Trumbley says it is "starting to become a little hub of activity in Creighton." To keep vehicles and all-terrain vehicles off the track, the Town of Creighton plans to place boulders along the edge to make a barrier and to help preserve the track.
