The tracks at local schools are popular places for people to walk and exercise -- but now, the Pflugerville Independent School District says the public is no longer allowed to use those facilities.
One way PISD decided it could save money -- by no longer allowing residents to use the track facilities at the high schools.
District officials say damage and misuse by the public was a major factor in their decision.
Pflugerville ISD spent more than 20 thousand dollars last year repairing vandalism and cleaning up at all three high school tracks -- along with paying staff overtime to open and close the facilities after hours and on the weekends.
Signs have been posted at all of Pflugerville ISD's high school tracks telling the public that by November 30Th they will no longer be allowed to use these facilities.
But district officials say they've left the public with some options.
"All five of our middle schools have tracks that are available to the community and will continue to be available, along with 7 elementary schools that have outdoor areas that can be used for outdoor fitness," said Keith McBurnett, the district's Deputy Superintendent.
Some residents like Brian Davis believe the city's 25 miles of hike and bike trails are a great alternative for those who frequent the high school tracks.
"They have other avenues to work out in, I don't see closing a track as a problem around here," Davis said.
But others like Terry Cueva, who runs on the Connally high school track, says the school district is making a big mistake.
"There's a lot of people who benefit from these fields it's a nice clean safe place to be, I'm a taxpayer, I pay for it, " Cueva said.
"I know I'm not the only one that feels this way."
The district says these track facilities at the high schools will be closed to the public come November 30Th -- when asked why it was willing to keep the tracks open to the public at the middle schools, PISD said it's because there's no expensive turf on those fields -- just real grass, which makes upkeep much less expensive.
