| I came across this article two weeks ago | | | | facilities for 10 years, which is how long I |
| after hearing about it on KSTP AM Radio. Out | | | | have been here," South athletic director Mark |
| of funding, South High School is in danger of | | | | Sanders said. "Every year we are asked to put |
| injuring students. They want to make the High | | | | together a needs list. Thus far, none of |
| School experience a positive one, we think | | | | those needs have been met." |
| the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape | | | | |
| Association MNLA along with it's members can | | | | Washington said enough money is allocated to |
| and will help. | | | | the schools to keep equipment functional and |
| | | | the programs running each year, but there is |
| School is out -- of funds | | | | no money for upgrading facilities. Booster |
| | | | clubs and fundraising events raise some |
| Many Minneapolis high school athletes | | | | revenue, but not enough to pay for |
| practice and play at inadequate facilities, | | | | "big-ticket items."We realize Minneapolis is |
| and future budgets don't provide for any | | | | hurting for dollars," Washington said, "but |
| quick fixes. | | | | there has to be a way we can generate the |
| | | | monies necessary to rebuild the facilities." |
| Dean Spiros, Star Tribune | | | | |
| | | | Taking a look around |
| Minneapolis South senior defensive end Zeke | | | | |
| Shepherd plays on a football field with no | | | | Each of the seven schools has its own problem |
| lights, no electricity, no rest rooms, no | | | | areas, and a recent tour of three schools |
| ticket booth, no concession stand and no | | | | offered some examples. |
| press box. He is not without shame. | | | | |
| | | | The biggest concerns of Edison athletic |
| "We went up to Cambridge [for the first game | | | | director Brandon Phillips involve the |
| of the season] and the paper there pointed | | | | football/soccer field. The bleachers, which |
| out we had never seen concession stands and | | | | typically are on the outside of the track |
| things like that," Shepherd said. "We have | | | | that rings the field, are on the inside of |
| seen them -- just not on our field." | | | | the track at Edison because surrounding |
| | | | buildings limit available space. Not only |
| For the most part, Shepherd said, you learn | | | | does the setup render the stands useless for |
| to do without. But when singled out by others | | | | track meets, the bleachers are dangerously |
| for lacking even standard amenities, you are | | | | close to the field. |
| drawn to re-evaluation. | | | | |
| | | | To make matters worse, the ground along the |
| "I didn't realize how embarrassing it is," | | | | sidelines drops off significantly toward |
| Shepherd said. | | | | field drains. Athletes -- still inbounds -- |
| | | | are forced to slow down to prevent slamming |
| Embarrassment, resentment, anger and | | | | into the surrounding chain link fence. |
| resignation are among the emotions often | | | | |
| packaged with the equipment handed out to | | | | "We have to put mats down [over the low |
| athletes at Minneapolis public high schools. | | | | areas] to prevent the kids from getting |
| Those feelings fight for supremacy against | | | | hurt," Phillips said. |
| the pride, commitment and determination that | | | | |
| allows the athletes and administrators to | | | | Henry athletic director Dave Wicker proudly |
| rise above the failings. | | | | shows off his school's gym, which was updated |
| | | | with new lighting and a new scoreboard last |
| The lack of quality facilities also can have | | | | year. The school also boasts a baseball |
| an impact on a student's decision to join a | | | | field; all the other schools play on city |
| team or attend a certain school. In some | | | | fields. |
| cases, safety is an issue. | | | | |
| | | | Henry's needs lie around the football field. |
| John Washington is in his 10th year as | | | | |
| athletic director for Minneapolis' seven | | | | Portable toilets are brought in on gamedays |
| public high schools. His experiences date | | | | because there are no permanent facilities. |
| back over 40 years to his days as a | | | | The concession stand is so decrepit the |
| basketball player at North, continuing on as | | | | school rarely uses it, setting up folding |
| a coach and athletic director at Henry. The | | | | tables instead. |
| best moments of his job are spent watching | | | | |
| young athletes perform. Too much of his time | | | | But, by far, the worst conditions are found |
| is spent saying no to coaches and ADs trying | | | | at South, which has the largest enrollment |
| to give those athletes the type of experience | | | | among the Minneapolis schools. |
| they deserve. | | | | |
| | | | What serves as the football practice field |
| Talk of the outdated, dilapidated, sometimes | | | | would best be described as a vacant lot. It |
| nonexistent athletic facilities of the | | | | is South's only practice field. The green |
| Minneapolis public schools has long stopped | | | | patches are not grass but straggly tangles of |
| qualifying as breaking news. But with each | | | | weeds. "It's not fun to get tackled on," |
| new freshman class come new sets of | | | | Shepherd said. "It's dangerous, too. I find |
| disbelieving eyes being introduced to the | | | | broken pieces of glass once in a while. It |
| harsh reality. | | | | would be a lot more reassuring if we had |
| | | | actual grass. |
| "I've been working on [trying to improve] | | | | |