Over the past two years, Plano ISD has made significant improvements at the Plano West, Plano East, and middle school athletic tracks. Unfortunately, these improvements have come with significant downside for local residents. Plano citizens who previously used these tracks to exercise and improve their health are now banned from accessing them. To the local running and fitness community, this ban essentially equates to closing a public park or trail. Many residents have since shifted their workouts to the Plano Senior High track, however, this track will ban public access too once renovations are complete. Once this change happens, Plano residents would have to commute outside of city limits to run on a rubber track. 

While we understand that Plano ISD may have legitimate reasons for wanting to limit public use, we believe that it's fair and best to allow residents to still use athletic tracks during certain times of the day such as weekday mornings, evenings, and at certain times on the weekend. We help support the construction and maintenance of school facilities through property taxes, and are invested in the success of the school district. A Plano ISD policy supporting public access to athletic tracks would best align the school district with the needs of the community, the school district's historical precedent, and the policies of neighboring school districts.