Construction Begins on Shield Road Track for Dexter Community Schools

Passersby on Baker Road in the Village of Dexter are amiss if drivers haven't noticed the big yellow construction trucks and mounds of dirt near the Shield Road intersection.

The construction project is part of a $100,000 renovation of the Dexter Community Schools outdoor track in order to accomodate a growing track and field program.

"We're renovating the field events area — track, high jump pit, shot put, etc. — that were in need of restoration," superintendent Mary Marshall said. "That area is greatly undersized for the amount of athletes participating in track and field events, so this project will add additional opportunities for our students."

Marshall said the project is being funded with money from the $47.9 million bond voters passed in 2008 to help with infrastructure improvements across the district.

With the renovation, which includes 6 acres of additional land the district purchased, Marshall said athletes will now have more room to compete in different events.

"The equipment was aging out, and the field in general was built for a smaller school district," she said. "Due to the size of our track and the amount of students we have in the program, in the past, it wasn't uncommon for kids to be waiting to participate in an event well into the evening. These improvements will make it a more appropriate field for our middle school and high school."

Marshall said its unclear when the track was last renovated. Construction on the project will continue through early fall.