Does your local public high school have their sports facilities locked up 24/7?

[Anonymous]

I wasn't sure whether to complain to the board or if it's sadly like this everywhere now.

We recently moved into a somewhat affluent and super safe suburb within walking distance of a public high school with sports facilities that appear to be private college-tier. So far in both June and July literally everything is locked down like it's the freaking Pentagon; tennis courts, football field, baseball fields, track, etc. Tons of security cameras all over these new facilities, so it's not like vandalism is a concern.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this. We pay super high property taxes for all of these bloated college-tier facilities and families can't even use them unless and if your 14-18 yo kid makes a hyper-competitive varsity team? Youth can no longer practice on their own time, elderly can't walk on a track their property taxes paid for, and families can't teach their kids tennis anymore at a nearby school?

[Anonymous]

It’s to prevent vandalism.

Even the high schools in affluent Montgomery County have to often lock students out of the school restrooms entirely because of vandalism.

[Anonymous]

It’s the jock sniffing coaches and athletic director who think they own it all.

[Anonymous]

We live in a suburb that sounds similar, and the outdoor facilities are open during certain non school hours (some mornings and evenings for example). A lot of people use the track. Not sure about the tennis courts or other fields. Not sure if the hours are extended or changed during the summer as I do not use. No idea of the details.

But I do think vandalism is always a concern even in nicer areas, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Not ours. I guess we're not affluent enough.

[Anonymous]

At our public school in an affluent area the track/football field is open. The baseball field doesn't have a fence so I guess it is open 24-7. Not sure about the tennis courts.

School goes until the 2nd or 3rd week of June, and there are pre season sports starting in early-mid August, so the window where the facilities aren't being used by the school is limited. The field is also leased to some club teams for practice (not as much as Walter Johnson HS though) so isn't available during those times.

Call the school to see what the availability to the general public is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not ours. I guess we're not affluent enough.

The place we moved from had really nice facilities and they were never locked. That's what I'm confused about.

[Anonymous]

I think only the baseball field and softball field is locked at our FCPS school - they’ve had a lot of trouble maintaining field quality which is probably why. The track/football field, soccer field, basketball court, and tennis courts are open for the public when not in use

[Anonymous]

I don’t blame them! If the facilities are left open, teens will hang out there - vandalism, graffiti, vaping. Schools are particularly worried about lawsuits and really have to be cautious.

It’s disappointing, but our lawsuit-hungry society.

[Anonymous]

I don't think so. My kids go and use the baseball field at yorktown sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Indoors, yes, outdoors anyone can use. Bizzare post.

[Anonymous]

Aren’t they often rented? Our local HS is always being used for off season training, camps or outside groups. I assume this is a the reason a school would lock everything up if they can. It’s too hard to regulate otherwise.

[Anonymous]

It's the dog owners. Any fenced in grassy area becomes a dog park. So the schools have to lock them out.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the middle school? Our HS is pretty locked up except for the tennis courts. The track requires a $5 permit and code for residents to use and it has to be obtained at town hall with a local address. But it’s also inside a substantial stadium.

The MS track, fields and tennis courts stay open.

One suburb over and everything is open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t blame them! If the facilities are left open, teens will hang out there - vandalism, graffiti, vaping. Schools are particularly worried about lawsuits and really have to be cautious.

It’s disappointing, but our lawsuit-hungry society.

In my experience the problem is more often young, barely supervised kids riding scooters on tennis courts and people letting their dogs run and poop on fields.