Funds are racing in, as Imbler High School prepares to host its first spring track meet
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, December 5th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
IMBLER – In July of 2023, the Imbler Track and Foundation put forward a plan for a new, state of the art composite track, and accompanying equipment, for use by both students and the community. Now, in December 2024, that plan is nearing completion. In fact, as of the time of writing, the track is fully complete and is already being used by Imbler students, having broken ground back in August of this year. The track is also fully open for community use.
Though hitting this milestone, the monumental outpouring of support for the track project hasn’t stopped yet. According to Ian Gordon, Chairman for the Imbler Track Committee, the Imbler Track Foundation recently received two $100,000 dollar grants, one from the Oregon Community Foundation and the other from the Maybel Clark McDonald Foundation, in addition to two $25,000 dollar grants, one from U.S. Bank and the other from the Randall Family Foundation. In addition, an individual donor out of Portland provided $45,000 dollars. This was all capped off by $8,621 dollars raised during the recent Halloween Run-A-Thon.
This means the committee are well on their way to paying for the projects finishing touches and supporting equipment. On December 2, Imbler Education Foundation board approved finishing remaining payments for the track surface, and $125,000 dollars toward track and field equipment. This leaves $200,000 dollars, which will go toward new track-side bleachers, a proper walkway from the parking area to the track, new timing equipment, and a new storage building for track equipment. Other upgrades to track facilities are being considered as well. The walkway is a new feature considered after the initial design was agreed upon. As explained by Ian:
“We realized that, to get from our parking lot out to the bleachers, it’d be good to have a paved and lighted walkway to get out there. So, we’re trying to do everything we can to make it accessible to everyone in the community.”
Some work is still wrapping up on the field event areas, with the final step being to install new equipment. That said, with the track itself complete and remaining work close to completion, Imbler is set to host its first track meet post construction on Saturday, May 10, 2025. According to Ian, this will act as both a test use and grand opening for the new track and facilities, with around six teams participating.
In the meantime, continued donations and support are always welcome. Additional information on the projects and options to donate can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sjCWtAgBje3KReFjL6Z8ZghfilKb1pvHh2nWWWo_bDU/edit?tab=t.0
Reflecting on the support thus far, Ian told Elkhorn Media Group:
“It’s great. I think the thing that’s really helped us along too is that we’ve been able to get so much support from outside of Union County. We’ve got a lot of support inside Union County, and that got people outside of Union County interested in what we’re doing and wanting to contribute.”
Aside from monetary support, Ian also made it clear that the foundation hopes the community will take advantage of the new track for their own exercise and come out to support the Imbler students during their first home meet on May 10.
