Right on track: work is progressing at Oakmont
By Caitlyn Kelleher

With the final layers of the reconstructed track going down, the work is nearly complete on the first of three major capital projects that the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District is working on this year.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Zapantis wants to give residents of both communities a chance to participate in the re-opening of the track and field area. He is asking residents to join school officials for the first lap around the track.

"We are inviting all the residents from both communities to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at the rack followed by walking one complete lap around the track," he said.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3 at 4:15 p.m. After the first lap, Zapantis said people are welcome to return to the high school for coffee and cake.

"It's going green," Zapantis said of the surface color. "We're hoping to put the Spartan logo on the track. We are hoping that it will be something that will be part of the school district for 20 plus year to come."

The reconstruction of the track at Oakmont Regional High School began this fall after voters in both towns agreed to let the district use $1.1 million of money reimbursed from the state to be used for that project, reconstructing the athletic fields and, if there is money remaining, repaving the Overlook Middle School parking lot.

The track reconstruction, which included removing and replacing the top layer of rubberized latex as well as digging up the lower layers of asphalt, is running about $10,000 under budget, Zapantis said.

"It is under the originally planned $200,000," he said. "It is a good thing because we don't know where the athletic field is going cost. The track, all in told, is $190,000."

The school committee will be reviewing bids for both a new natural turf field and a turf field at their next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

All of the track areas including the long-jump, pole vault and high jump areas were also resurfaced.

"We are getting it ready for the spring," Zapantis said. "That is really the track season, so it will be ready for track. There will be no delay of the program."

The track is open to the public for their use but Zapantis said there will be some restriction. He said there won't be any bikes, roller blades or ATV allowed on the track and that those using it will be asked to wear rubber-soled shoes.

The long-term maintenance of track will be built into the district's capital plan, Zapantis said.

"A track is suppose to be recoated about every seven to eight years," he said. "There is a maintenance plan. "If you keep up with it then you really don't need to do the expensive foundation work that we had to do this time."