Track Resurfacing: Improvements made
at MAP
Everyone
from BC’s top athletes to recreational walkers and spectators
will benefit from improvements that are being completed at
McLeod Athletic Park in preparation for the 2010 BC Summer
Games.
A number of
upgrades are being made at the park by the Township of Langley,
which hosts the Games this coming July.
McLeod Athletic Park, at 216 Street and 56 Avenue, will be a hub
of activity during the provincial competition, and the
improvements will help accommodate many other sporting and
special events in the future.
The largest
project to be undertaken was the resurfacing of MAP’s running
track, which was completed in late
August.
The original track surface was installed in 1992 and was at the
end of its expected lifespan, and the track now features new
line painting, a new inside curb that uses recycled rubber, a
relocated a pole vault area, regraded long jump/triple jump
runways, and resurfaced field event areas.
The total cost of the work was just over $650,000, which is
under the Council-approved budget of $750,000.
“The new surface will provide a national calibre facility for
the Township of Langley 2010 BC Summer Games,”
said Township
Manager of Parks Design and Development Al Neufeld,
“as well as for the ongoing use of the facility by the Langley
Mustangs Track and Field Club.”
The Mustangs, who had a very successful summer which yielded a
number of national medals for the team, plan to make good use of
the improved track: “We’re looking forward to it,” said head
coach Kim Chapdelaine, who noted that the resurfacing will
“absolutely” make a difference in the athletes’ performance.
“The surface determines the speed of the track, and if it is
dense in consistency then the track is faster,” she said.
With 130 members ranging from age 6 to into their 80s, who train
in track and field at recreational to high performance levels,
the Mustangs are the track’s biggest user group. They will be on
the track six days a week for technical training and competition
preparation, Chapdelaine said.
Sports fans who want to see the Mustangs and other teams in
action will also have an enhanced experience, as a number of
other upgrades are being made to MAP’s stadium area.
A
sports scoreboard was installed outside the southeast corner of
the track, and a sound system was put in for announcing events
to spectators in the grandstand. In October, the concrete
surfaces that currently exist in the grandstand will be replaced
by new seats, some of
which will have backrests for added spectator comfort.
As
well, a new perimeter fence is being installed around the track,
artificial turf field, and grandstand, to provide better control
for paid admission events that are scheduled at the venue.
“These improvements will make the stadium area at McLeod
Athletic Park the centre of activity for the 2010 BC Summer
Games,” Neufeld said, adding that all of the enhancement
projects are coming in within their targeted budgets.
For more information, contact Al Neufeld at
aneufeld@tol.bc.ca or 604-533-6085.
Langley Mustang athletes and BC Champions Robbie Gallaugher,
Brennan Gademans, Carolyn Southerland, and Chris Southerland are
excited about training on the upgraded McLeod Athletic Park
running track, which was recently resurfaced by the Township of
Langley. Gallaugher, who is the top Long Jumper in BC, recently
placed 4th in the Junior Nationals and 6th
in the Canada Summer Games, and Gademans, BC’s top 100 Metre
runner, was 5th overall at the Legion Nationals.
Carolyn Southerland is a silver medalist in Long Jump Nationals
and a gold medalist in the 4 X100 meters at Legion Nationals,
and her brother Chris in a BC champion in 200 and 400 metre
events and a gold medalist in the 4X100 meters at Legion
Nationals.
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