New multi-purpose track celebrated at Tracey School

School system and City Hall officials praised the dual benefits of the new Tracey Magnet School multi-purpose track Thursday during a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“This has had such an amazing impact on our school community,” said Tracey School Principal Lindsay Esposito. “Not only do we see the impact in arrival and dismissal, but we also have students that are adopting a healthy lifestyle from it.”

Besides providing a walking and running surface, the asphalt track serves as a queueing lane for vehicles during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times, eliminating traffic congestion on Camp St.

Students are walking around the track at recess, Esposito said, and staff members are taking breaks and coming outside. “I can’t wait to see what the future brings and how the community is going to use the track, as well, but so far it has been quite a positive experience.”

The track borders the school’s rear playing field, with entrance and exit lanes connecting it to the parking lot. At a fifth of a mile long, it can accommodate over 60 vehicles, according to a city news release.

The track cost $400,000 to design and install.

Mayor Harry Rilling said the project was budgeted for $500,000. He said the surplus funds will be used to upgrade sidewalks in the surrounding neighborhood.

The project was designed by Nathan Fankhanel, an engineer with the city’s Dept. of Transportation, Mobility and Parking.

Fankhanel noted the track is bordered by four rain gardens that absorb water running off its surface.

The gardens, he said, were created by excavating 48-inch-deep troughs that were filled with soil treated to increase absorption.

On Thursday, white flags marked where trees will be planted in the gardens. Afterwards, they will be covered with a layer of pea gravel that grass will grow through, Fankhanel said.

The project also included improving a junior-size basketball court and extending a sidewalk to create additional student play space.

In prior years, dropping off students at Tracey was “challenging,” said public schools Superintendent Alexandra Estrella. “Watching first-hand yesterday how families easily cycled-through the property and dropped off their students in a safe and efficient manner was a sight to be seen.”

Esposito said Tracey Magnet School has 450 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.