No More Shin Splints, Imbler Begins Fundraising for A New School Track
By Garrett Christensen on Monday, July 24th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
IMBLER – Athletics are a core part of the school experience, with track being a popular choice. To allow for track competitions at home, and avoid gravel related injuries, the Imbler Track Committee has started raising funds to replace the school’s obsolete dirt track.
According to committee chair Ian Gordon, the need for a new track comes down to competition and student health. Standard tracks, like those found at other schools, are made of a composite material. Imbler’s dirt and gravel track, though suitable for running, isn’t up to competition standards, hence the school can’t actually host its own track meets. This also creates a minor issue where the track students practice on and the ones they compete on have an entirely different feel. From a health standpoint, there’s a constant issue of students getting shin splints from running on the rough ground. With forty percent of the student body participating in track last year, this is an issue. As Ian put it, “we’d like to get a track where we can hold meets and that’s good for the health of our kids’ feet and legs.”
Of course, if built, the track won’t just be a competitive showpiece for the high school track students. The junior high track team and the various P.E. classes will have free usage. In addition, it’s hoped that members of the community will use the track outside of school hours. As described by Ian:
“We’ve got some elderly folks in town now, they’ll walk around on the streets, but it’d be nice to have that nice surface on the track to be easier on bones and joints. The intention is to have it available to the people and the community after hours.”
Fundraising for the project recently kicked off with a 4th of July fun run. According to Ian, over a hundred people participated and helped raise over thirteen thousand dollars along with a matching grant from CB Construction. However, the track still has a long way to go. While the full cost is still being worked out, the construction firm working with the committee estimates it will be roughly a million dollars in total for the track and necessary equipment. In the meantime, the committee is hoping to garner enough local support for the project to be viable for larger contributors. As Ian explained:
“Our aim is to get enough support from the community to appeal to some large foundations that could come in and make some significant contributions to the funding. The foundations typically like to see a lot of skin in the game from the community. If we can get a good head of steam going on our fundraising locally then, hopefully, we’ll be able to get some help from some larger organizations.”
While no new fundraisers or events have been scheduled yet, the committee is currently asking members of the community to either donate directly or pledge to donate later. This both provides funds to the project and helps build the necessary traction needed for larger contributors and foundations to take notice. Monetary donations can be given to the Imbler Education Foundation and dropped off at the Imbler School office. The committee can also work with donors individually if needed.
No timeline for construction has been finalized as it’s still too early in the project, but the committee is working with the firm to line out a more detailed plan and cost estimate. Initial construction will be managed by local contractors. Though a monumental task, committee members are grateful for the support already shown by the community and are optimistic for the project. As best put by Ian:
“It’s a labor of love. We’re doing this for our kids and our grandkids. There’s a lot of people in the community that are supportive, a lot of alumni, including a lot of folks who don’t live in Union County anymore.”A website, imblertrack.org, is currently in development and will host more information on the project once launched.
