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For as long as I've known, the SMU track has been open for people to use.

My wife is currently in a sprinters group that practices there twice per week. On Saturday, the gate was locked, for the first time ever. They entered through a hole in the fence and commenced with sprint practice.

After a while, SMU police showed up. The shut the practice down and told the group that all of them could be issued a citation for trespassing. The cop said the only reason he was letting them off with a warning was that his boss wasn't there, or something to that effect.

So, my question, is the track really not open to people anymore?

Never heard of it being closed other than during soccer games. Strange.

Of course, SMU PD using prickish threats is situation normal

so, is it illegal to run on the track now?

Maybe email brad (SID)?

I've been to a soccer game with people running the track during play. Didn't bother anybody. SMU does crazy [deleted] out of the blue... all the time. Expect the unexpected.

Maybe they closed it temporarily for maintenance

Allegedly, the new IPF is going to go at that location.

If any construction related activities are going to start soon (even if it is just pre-construction site work), they may have had to close it for "insurance reasons" even if real construction might not start for some time.

It was locked for a period of time back in the 90's when I used to use it. It was due to maintenance. Stayed that way for a while. Obviously it is private property so SMU can do with it what it wants or needs to do. However, for the betterment of the Dallas community as a whole, it is nice to have the track available to the general public. It gets a lot of use.

More traffic for Germany Park.

Strange. I used to run on that track all the time, even after I was no longer a student. It's always been open and I've seen a myriad of groups using it; and all did so responsibly to my knowledge.

Bergermeister wrote:I've been to a soccer game with people running the track during play. Didn't bother anybody. SMU does crazy [deleted] out of the blue... all the time. Expect the unexpected.

Really? It is school policy that nobody can use the track during games. I have been to just about every home game for a lot of years, and if someone walks on to the track, they usually get asked to leave right away. Thinking back, I can remember someone jogging during a spring exhibition game maybe once or twice, but that's it. Do you remember how long ago the game you're describing was?

PonyPride wrote:

Bergermeister wrote:I've been to a soccer game with people running the track during play. Didn't bother anybody. SMU does crazy [deleted] out of the blue... all the time. Expect the unexpected.

Really? It is school policy that nobody can use the track during games. I have been to just about every home game for a lot of years, and if someone walks on to the track, they usually get asked to leave right away. Thinking back, I can remember someone jogging during a spring exhibition game maybe once or twice, but that's it. Do you remember how long ago the game you're describing was?

SMU vs TCU girls. About 7 years ago. Last soccer game I went to. I was a TCU fan that game. Last time for that, too.

Track has been open for a while to the outside community. I heard that it was only closed for a short time for athletes training for nationals.

tristatecoog wrote:Track has been open for a while to the outside community. I heard that it was only closed for a short time for athletes training for nationals.

Thanks for the update. I'll let me wife know.