Oleai track oval still closed to public

The Northern Marianas Sports Association is again reminding the public that the Oleai track oval is still closed for public use as NMSA has yet to finish all repairs and renovation at the facility.

NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi said they are asking the public to remain patient since they wanted all improvements at the track and field stadium to be completed before they reopen the facility.

They would again ask for help from Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony T. Benavente to lend them the tiller machine to soften up the field and break up the old grass.

“We need to use the tiller again to break up the grass so the grounds crew of Laolao Bay Golf & Resort could come in and work on the field. We’re asking the public to be patient and we’re going to open the facility once the grass is replaced,” said Rogolifoi. “We are thankful for all the help given to us by the people in the community, especially, Sec. [Tony] Benavente and LaoLao’s management. Without their equipment and manpower, we won’t be able to do it.”

He is asking the public, who usually walk or jog around the oval when it was still open, to refrain from climbing over the fence.

“The facility is still closed after the resurfacing was done this year. We need to keep the track in good shape for several sporting events that we’re going to host,” said Rogolifoi.

Saipan will be hosting the Micronesian Athletics Championships in June next year and the 2021 Pacific Mini Games with the Oleai Sports Complex being the main hub of both events.

Rogolifoi added they will be imposing a minimal fee to all walkers and joggers who would use the track. “We will be collecting fees once we opened the facility again to the public. We [NMSA] have already discussed the fees and the amount is not that much, maybe either $0.50 or $1. The money that we’re going to collect will be used for the maintenance of the facility. We’re planning to do maintenance every three months and we’re going to use water blasters.”

He added that they would need two more water blasters for the maintenance work at the Oleai Sports Complex. “Three or four would be perfect for us. We also need to extend the water pipes going to the track oval.”

Rogolifoi brought several pop up sprinklers that they plan to install at the baseball field and at the track oval.

“We plan to install these sprinklers to prepare the fields for the dry season. We will also need a water pump to help with the water pressure.”