The City of New Westminster has opted for a two-toned running track at Mercer Stadium.
Work on the new track got underway last summer, but its completion has been hampered by poor weather.
"There are three layers of the rubber material. The final layer is the part that gives it its colour," said Dean Gibson, the city's director of parks, culture and recreation. "We are in the homestretch."
While the blue layer was applied a couple of weeks ago, installation of the gold lanes is underway - as weather permits.
The colours were chosen because they are the City of New Westminster's colours.
"It's blue and gold. They are alternating lanes," Gibson said. "It was a decision we discussed internally within our department."
Gibson said the notion of having twotoned tracks isn't unheard of, nor is it commonplace.
"We like to do things that are distinctive," he said about New Westminster.
Gibson said the project's tender package that was issued sought prices for a solid and a two-toned track. While he didn't have the figures readily available, Gibson said the two estimates were "very, very close" in price.
The surface has to be applied when the track is dry. Even the threat of rain can halt work on the project for the day.
Gibson estimated that the new track would have a 15-to 20-year lifespan.
In addition to a new running track, the Mercer Stadium project also includes a new jump area for long jump, high jump and pole vault activities, as well as a new storage facility for local organiza-tions having equipment that needs to be stored at the site.
Over at Moody Park, the new surfacing is a blue colour scheme. Gibson said the blue-and-green colour scheme is also being done at the new tennis court in Queensborough. He said the use of blue on tennis courts isn't uncommon.
"As the various sport courts come due for routine resurfacing, we are introducing a coloured play area surface that is distinctive from the 'out of bounds' court areas," he wrote in an email to The Record. "Colours like blue court surfaces make it easier to see the tennis ball."
