Construction is under way on a new track at McDaniel College in Westminster. Once complete the track will be open for community use and provide a space for local events, McDaniel Director of Athletic Communications Jason Eichelberger said.

The upgrade is expected to be done by mid-August, Eichelberger said. McDaniel announced the $1.7 million renovation in November; construction began May 19.

“Our goal is to start hosting track meets again for McDaniel,” Eichelberger said, “and also, possibly, some Carroll County events, some high school events, and maybe even some other outside events — bring that to the college — which would be good for the college and the Westminster surrounding area.”

The track is likely to be a boon to Westminster hotels and restaurants, Eichelberger said, as hosting more large events in the city will draw crowds, and opposing teams will need accommodations.

The condition of McDaniel’s track has rendered the school unable to host a meet since 2018.

The new track surface will have more cushioning, which will improve safety and performance for athletes, Eichelberger said. Workers have removed the old surface, down to the underlying gravel layer, and are installing a new drainage system on the edge of the quarter-mile track.

New fencing will make the track feel more private, Eichelberger added, and the college will likely impose new rules on community members using it to prevent deterioration.

“We’re going to have to be more careful of who gets on it,” Eichelberger said, “and do a better job with policing that, just because we don’t want people with improper shoes on the surface, for example. I know a lot of people bring their dogs and different animals when they would walk around the track and on the turf, and for obvious reasons, that opens it up to concerns with dogs going to the bathroom and relieving themselves on the track.”

It is uncertain what the new rules will be, Eichelberger said, but community members should still be able to use the track.

“It’s a lot more surface,” Eichelberger said, “and we’ll need to take better care of it, but all of that is on the table, at least for discussion. What that will look like, I think time will tell, but for now, just having a better facility will certainly open up more opportunities that we didn’t have before.”

The project will include a new jumping area, and the college installed a new cage for shot put and related athletics.

Eichelberger said community members will likely be able to use these facilities, provided they have some experience in the sport and bring their own equipment.

“We consider ourselves part of the Westminster community,” Eichelberger said, “so whenever possible, we’re going to work with them and allow the community to use our facilities and our campus.”

McDaniel hosted Carroll County high school tennis championships on its newly refurbished courts last month.

Kenneth R. Gill Stadium began as a turf field inside the eight-lane track in 2004, with lights added in 2010. The 1,434-seat grandstand and stadium were erected in 2012 and were dedicated at the college’s Homecoming game on Nov. 3 of that year, according to McDaniel’s website.

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