COMMUNITY LEADERS COMMENT ON INDOOR TRACK: PART 3
Part 3: Michael Reilly and Nicole Nelson
The Chamber reached out to a few community and business leaders to hear their thoughts on the proposed indoor track project in Glenwood. For the next few weeks, we will be sharing the comments we have received to questions asked about the indoor track project and the impact it could have on the greater Springfield/Eugene community.
For the third in our series, we’re sharing interviews with Michael Reilly, CEO of TrackTown USA and SCDC Board Member, and Nicole Nelson, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, WaFd and SCDC Board Member.
Read our Part 1 interview HERE (Sean VanGordon and Pat Walsh)
Read Our Part 2 interview HERE (Tina Patel and Jim Christian)
Michael Reilly
CEO, TrackTown USA
SCDC Board Member
What current unmet community needs will this facility help address?
I know from hosting the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championships that there is tremendous excitement throughout Oregon for opportunities to compete in an indoor track and field facility. We could not accommodate the number of youth and high school athletes who wanted to run, jump, or throw on the track that we temporarily built inside the Oregon Convention Center. Participation statistics tell a compelling story. In the latest figures published by the National Federation of State High School Associations, almost a combined 150,000 boys and girls in Oregon, Washington, and California participated in track and field. Once the number of athletes at the collegiate and professional levels are included, it becomes clear that this facility’s ability to attract clubs, teams, and individuals who would want to train and compete in Springfield is tremendously strong.
Even as our community reopens and rebounds from the impact of the pandemic, why do you believe now is the right time to move this project forward?
With the reopening of Hayward Field, the fourth consecutive hosting of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the staging of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 all scheduled for the next two years, the national and international spotlight will shine brightly on our community. We could not be better positioned to share the pioneering spirit of Springfield with a worldwide audience than by building a multi-use facility capable of transforming our community’s health, profile, and economy.
As a (parent, type of business owner, community leader, resident) what benefits do you see in this vision Springfield and our region?
During this year’s indoor track and field season, Portland’s Karissa Schweizer set the American Record for 3,000 meters and the University of Oregon’s James West ran the fastest indoor 1,500 meters in collegiate history. Both traveled to Boston for their race. Why shouldn’t they have set those records in Springfield? With the construction of this best-in-class facility, I fully expect that athletes from across the United States will come to view Springfield as the destination for achieving their best performances.
Why do you believe in/support this project?
Track and field is often described as a sport for everyone. It offers opportunities for boys and girls, men and women, from the youngest to the oldest among us. It caters to no specific body type. Regardless of who you are, you can find a home in track and field. That is how I feel about this project. Whether your interest is in health and wellness, expanded event capacity, additional opportunities for sports and recreational programming, or increased economic activity, this multi-use facility will deliver. Through sound public and private investment, we can create a year-round home for everyone in our community.
Nicole Nelson
Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, WaFd
SCDC Board Member
Even as our community reopens and rebounds from the impact of the pandemic, why do you believe now is the right time to move this project forward?
Construction of a facility like this will boost local jobs and stimulate additional neighborhood investments which will be a shot in the arm for the economic recovery. Once the facility is operational, outside visitors for tournaments and events will bring their dollars to our local businesses for food, lodging, and other purchases. Sports travel is less affected by swings in the economy which helps prop businesses up during times of slower economic activity. An investment grade feasibility study was completed on the project which shows the substantial impact of spending during the indoor track season which historically has been the slower time of year for our local tourism industry.
As a (parent, type of business owner, community leader, resident) what benefits do you see in this vision for Springfield and our region?
As a parent, I have seen the positive impact sports and physical activities have on my son. I have always known that physical activity is important to your overall wellbeing. However, by serving on the Springfield Community Development Corporation board, I have learned even more about the importance of physical activity. Students who have at least three hours of intense physical activity each week achieve higher test scores, and are more likely to graduate high school. Continuing activity results in lower medical costs and higher earning potential as adults. Access to a multipurpose facility provides more opportunity for our local children to experience the benefits of sports.
For years, the community has referred to Glenwood as our “diamond in the rough.” The last five years the area has seen considerable progress – three hotels in five years and important public investment in Phase I Franklin Blvd enhancements. How will this project catalyze the next iteration of public and private development?
Commercial development requires individuals to take risk. I applaud the Patel family for building their hotels and the City for starting the infrastructure investments. Many of the improvements in downtown Springfield started with Planktown and other small businesses being catalytic businesses, proving out that success could be had in downtown. Since that time, developers and business owners have bet on downtown Springfield, and the community is reaping the benefits with even more local restaurants, shops, and services, right here at home. Other than the projects mentioned, the majority of Glenwood has remained unchanged despite over ten years of economic growth. The risk for private developers and businesses to invest in Glenwood without an economic driver to the area is too high, or they would have done it already. A public private partnership to build and manage the new facility will bring local residents of Springfield and Eugene to Glenwood, as well as large groups for track meets, sports tournaments, and other events. I believe our community will see greater interest in developing the underutilized parcels of real estate once the project is underway to unveil the diamond.
