An online petition has been set up asking the city to keep Masich Place Stadium open to the public from dawn until dusk.
The city is completing a $4.8 million upgrade of the facility and a schedule it being determined for citizens to be able to access the track. Previously the stadium was not fenced and residents could go for a walk on the track whenever they liked.
“Massich Place Stadium is a gem within the city center,” reads the online petition, set up by Katie Paolucci. “It is a safe, well lit and accessible space to all people regardless of their fitness abilities, socio-economic status, age, work hours, or physical mobility. It’s easily accessible by bus, and one of the only obstacle free surfaces for visually impaired people to walk/run on. Its completely handicapped and stroller accessible. The stadium seating offers many ways to incorporate bodyweight resistance training to gain muscle strength. It’s a great place for friends to meet to encourage each-other, and a great way to meet like minded individuals who have the same physical activity goals as yourself.
“The track should be accessible from dawn to dusk, as it has always been in the past. The City of Prince George is proposing to have a very limited amount of time each day allotted for the general public to be able to utilize the track and the stadium. It has been suggested that the hours available to the general public will be from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. daily.
This is going to exclude a large portion of the population who used to use the facilities in the past. The proposed limited hours of operation available to the general public is going to discourage and make it difficult for many individuals to even come close to meeting their daily physical activity needs.”
