Reply to Recent experiences with Silver Spring International

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The track is on park land -- it was transferred to M-NCPPC/Montgomery Parks when the old Blair HS was decommissioned and cut up into SSIMS and Sligo Creek ES.  Why?  Because the spec for middle schools did not include a track and field of that size, whereas the HS had to have one.  (Lots of head-scratching facility decisions over the past 3 decades, especially in areas like downcounty where space is at a premuim and the county hasn't done enough to ensure public-use space isn't overwhelmed by private development interests.)

Like many adjacent park facilities that are used for school athletics/activities, it is supposed to be reserved for school use during school hours and otherwise open to the community.  A problem at SSIMS (and, honestly, and sadly unsurprisingly much of downcounty) is that the park has not been well kept by the parks folks.  Ignoring the overgrowth, field condition, etc., the fencing/access is poor and poorly marked.

The "random people" walking the track, using the blacktop, etc., are just those from the extended neighborhood, often accessing it via the popular, adjacent trail along Sligo Creek -- the same folks you'd see using outdoor facilities while walking the Capital Crescent Trail or Bethesda Trolley Trail.  The differences are the dual use, school and community, and the poor upkeep, signage and care by the parks folks to pay attention/enforce the hours that are supposed to be school-only.

I doubt this is intentional, just that there are louder voices elsewhere that divert attention/resources.[/quote]

I agree it’s most likely not intentional. But to clarify, are students using the track during the school day? At the same time as community members? If so, I just feel like that is unsafe. Anyone that enters a school building needs to be buzzed in, provide identification, and receive a visitor pass. 
[/quote]

The track is outdoors, in a public park adjacent to the school.[/quote]

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