Schools

Alums Start Petition To Upgrade Parkville High Fields

The petition on Change.org asks the Baltimore County Public Schools system to look into improving athletic facilities at the school.

Last year, a project to renovate the aging facilities at Parkville High School was completed and now a group is asking Baltimore County Public Schools to look into upgrading the school's athletic fields.

A group of Parkville High School parents and alumni started a petition on the website Change.org asking school and elected officials to consider upgrading the football field and stadium facilities in the school.

"With the exception of a new 6-lane track, our football field and "stadium" facilities are among the worst in Baltimore County," wrote John Paff, who started the petition. "A few hundred members of the community ... grade schools, church groups and our armed forces use our facilities every single day for health and fitness activities."

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Paff is a Parkville High School alumni and the older brother of a current student, according to a post on Facebook.

In the petition, Paff wrote that the school's field is known around the county as "the dust bowl" because it has "more dirt and rocks than grass".

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Other concerns include the availability of water ("nearly a quarter mile away inside the athletic training room") in case of an emergency such as heat exhaustion.

Paff wrote that upgraded facilities would allow the school to "host tournaments, invitational track meets and ceremonies."

"We are not asking for the best facilities in the county. We are simply asking to have the same quality facilities that the surrounding Baltimore County Public Schools have had for two decades," he wrote.

So far, the petition has gathered 101 electronic signatures since being posted.

Click here to view the Change.org petition.

On Facebook, a page dedicated to improving the school's athletic facilities appeared alongside the petition.

The group, called Parkville High School Stadium project, has about 31 "likes" so far.

Baltimore County Public Schools completed a 3-year-long $34.5 million dollar upgrade to the school building late last year.

According to a statement made by the school system at the time, the project "[included] additions to the school's stage, elevator, corridors, and mezzanine areas, as well as renovations including new floors, ceiling, lighting, and interior and exterior doors."

Do you agree that stadium facilities at Parkville High School need an upgrade? Tell us in the comments.

READ MORE:

  • Parkville High Scoreboard Sparks Controversy
  • Officials to Cut Ribbon On Renovated Parkville High


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