Safety concerns lead to upgrades at sports complex

Aug. 31, 2007

By Chris Gillow/Frontiersman

WASILLA - The Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex is testing the limits of its &#8220multi-” designation.

With the introduction of a local junior hockey team, home show and outdoorsman show, the sports complex has become a premier location for indoor events in the Mat-Su Valley. Problem is, the diversity and number of event attendees has surpassed many of the facility's original expectations.

"At the time the facility was designed the track was designed solely for walking and running," said Bruce Urban, recreation and cultural services manger for the complex. "As we evolved, we've seen more uses for the track."

Hockey games and major events have brought a substantial surge of spectators to the complex, Urban said. When the available seats around the ice rink are filled, spectators are redirected to the track. Even though the track has a barrier that provides safety, some aspects of it require upgrades.

A Wasilla city staff report describes the guardrail system as being capped by a 3-inch by 3-inch steel top rail with vertical braces spaced up to 60 inches apart. Although the top rail and braces provide a strong barrier, the horizontal cables that connect the vertical braces are no longer appropriate for all the.

Spectators can unknowingly create a safety hazard when they prop their legs on the horizontal cables, Urban said. The cables become weak and might break, creating a gap big enough for someone to fall through.

The cable has become inadequate because it was not designed to take the abuse it now receives, said Blase Burkhart, the original architect of the complex.

To solve this problem, the Wasilla City Council recently introduced an ordinance that will provide no more than $95,000 from the 2008 budget to upgrade the safety rails surrounding the track.

"We're trying to be proactive and fix this problem before there are any accidents," Urban said. If the money is approved at the council's Sept. 10 meeting, crews will be ready to start work on the project the next day.

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.