POPLAR BLUFF FUNDS TRACK PRIVATELY

It doesn't take long to sense the pride Poplar Bluff superintendent Dr. Mike Johnson has for his school district's track complex, where redrock was transformed to modern rubber.

"A lot of people come through and say you must have a college play here," said Johnson.

And, he's had college coaches in turn remark, "This is as nice a track as there is in the midwest."

There have been many superlatives for the home of the Mules since it was finished this past October.

In all, Poplar Bluff poured $600,000 of renovations into its track and football facility.

The track alone carried a price tag of $252,000. While Poplar Bluff has a model facility, so is the method in which the track was funded.

"If not for the community and John Q. Public, we would not have this facility because the school district could not afford something like this," said Johnson.

Johnson, a 1966 graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School and a track team member while he attended Southeast Missouri State University, oversaw the private funding of a $22,000 asphalt track for Kelly High School while superintendent in Benton.

At Poplar Bluff, he again turned to businesses and individuals in the community for funding of the track.

"We went to motels, restaurants, gas stations and told them if they made a donation we'd try to get events here to put money back in their pockets," said Johnson.

The response was overwhelming with donations ranging from $3 from individuals to a $75,000 donation from Wal-Mart.

"Wal-Mart tried to spur the other businesses to come up with the rest of the money," said Johnson.

In five months, enough money was raised to cover the track. Further donations went toward a fence, bleachers, concession stand, restrooms, press box and 16 skyboxes.

The school district did add some money out of reserve funds, but yearly income from the eight-seat skyboxes, which sell for $1,000 and $1,250, goes toward repaying the fund.

Johnson views the track as a community asset. Walkers are able to use the track, which is lighted for evening strolls.

"It benefits a lot more people than just the students," said Johnson.

The city, which has a strong track history, is a regional site for the Show Me Games and Senior Olympics, which generate revenue.

Johnson said Poplar Bluff would have recently landed a national AAU age group track meet with 3,000 participants, but the city was bypassed for a lack of motel space. He said an estimated $10 million would have been brought into the community had the meet been secured.

"Our population is half the size of Cape so I think they would have a good chance of pulling it off," said Johnson. "I would hope the community would get behind them cause it's an asset to the whole community."