Follow rules

Rules for public use of the track at Blackhawk Stadium are for the good of all and to help maintain the condition of the facility, according to athletic director Tony Travis.

"There's a sign out there," Travis said, explaining that the "small set of rules we tried to put together" is to help maintain the condition of the track. He said pets, gum, candy, sunflower seeds and wheels damage the track.

"On a regular grass field, it's not that big a deal, but on turf, it stays there until somebody picks it up," Travis said.

Recently, it has been noticed that people are taking their pets on walks on the track.

"We've actually had to have players remove piles left by dogs on the field before we can practice," Travis, also head football coach, said. "That's not good."

"I don't want to close it to the community," he said, acknowledging that many people enjoy using the track. He said some schools make more stringent rules, such as designating which lanes can be used because of wear and tear on the track.

"Rogers has a sign asking the public to stay in lanes 4 through 8 and their football field is off limits to everyone," he said, explaining that school officials would reexamine Pea Ridge rules regarding use for the public.

"It's just a small percentage of people who ruin it for everyone," he said. "We've even had people come out with golf balls, golf clubs... another time, a young man was kicking soccer balls into the fence. That will eventually cause fence problems."

Travis said sand is getting lost out of the sand pits because when parents walk the track, their children play in the sand pits.

"That sand gets on the outside and creeps into the end zone making it too hard," he said, adding that he is looking at having covers made for the sand pits.

"We are glad the community enjoys it. We just ask that they follow the rules."