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