DHS fence: Security or eyesore?

Douglas High School's $1.5 million "world-class" track and football field presents too much temptation for vandalism and needs to be protected by a 12-foot chain-link fence, school officials said Wednesday.

But neighbors of the high school told the Minden Town Board that the proposed fence would be an eyesore.

"Our concern is vandalism," said Jeremy Hutchings, the Douglas County School District's engineer.

"There is significant rivalry with other school districts " Carson High for one " and our intent is to protect the improvements," he said.

Hutchings said the fence would be installed on the north, south and east sides of the new all-weather track and artificial turf football field.

He brought the proposal to the town board for a variance to increase the permissible height from 8 feet to 12 feet.

"This isn't a guarantee the vandalism won't occur, but we believe it is a prudent measure," Hutchings said. "This is not a 'nice' or 'pretty good' facility. This is world class."

Former Google software engineer Raymond Sidney donated $1.6 million not only to complete the installation of the all-weather track but also to lay down artificial turf on the football field.

Hutchings estimated that by the time the project is complete, Sidney will have donated $2 million.

Resident Jim Hales, whose home on Mahogany Drive is closest to the comples, said he respects the need to protect the field, but believed there were better alternatives.

"We value this town. It's always had an openness, a small-town feel," Hales said. "This fence will become an eyesore."

Hales compared the fence to the barricade which surrounds the juvenile justice center in Carson City.

"That 12-foot fence, coming into Westwood, will create the feeling of an encampment," Hales said.

Douglas principal Marty Swisher outlined examples of rivalry between Carson and Douglas fans which lead to destruction of property on both campuses.

"I'm not proud of this," he said.

In the 1990s, Swisher said, Douglas students spray-painted a score on Carson High's new track.

Right before the beginning of the 2006 school year, Swisher said Carson students painted the windows at Douglas and hung signs from the roof.

Douglas students retaliated, Swisher said, and Carson students returned in the spring to spray-paint the baseball field.

"Our goal certainly is to have public access to the track, that will not change," Swisher said.

The football field will be off limits to the public.

"With the surface, you can't spill a drop of soda or leave a piece of gum on it," he said.

Swisher said he recruited student volunteers to test their fence-climbing agility.

The 12-foot fence presented the most difficulty, especially climbing back over to get out.

"We do not want to create a prison atmosphere," Swisher said. "I walk by those 12-foot fences at the tennis courts every day and never have that feeling. This is one opportunity to do the best we can to protect our $2 million investment."

Teacher Keith Cole, who has spearheaded the all-weather track project for seven years, said the goal was to provide a "robust deterrent" to vandalism.

"Our track is comparable to the same track they installed in Sydney and Atlanta and are putting in Beijing," he said. "The 12-foot fence is the minimum to make it difficult to get into the complex."

Cole said he was concerned that vandals would try to steal $150,000 in equipment which comes with the project, referencing several thefts at University of Nevada, Reno, that proved costly to the school which is protected with an 8-foot fence.

He said the 6-foot fence which surrounds the Douglas field now presents no deterrent to people who ignored the fact the complex was under construction.

"It's comical the number of people I've had to ask to leave the facility," Cole said.

"That included health club members, Cub Scouts whose mother sat in her Cadillac watching the boys climb the fence and play on the field, and a former student on the football field with his golf clubs," Cole said.

"It would be a shame to future generations to see 'CHS rules' on that field."

Minden board member and former school administrator Dave Sheets said he supported the fence, but believed the issue should be aired by the school board to give neighbors an opportunity to comment.

"I think it's an issue the school board should discuss. They're the controlling agent and need to take a stand," Sheets said.

Hutchings said the issue was not required to go to the school board.

Minden board member Bob Hadfield said he didn't think the fence would deter vandalism.

"I'm not sure the youth of the community deserve it if that's what happens," Hadfield said.

He said he had no objection to stringing barbed wire or concertina wire across the fence which he preferred at 6 or 8 feet.

"If they cut a finger off, they deserve it," he said. "It's a sad commentary if you put that beautiful facility in and not respect it."

Hadfield said he would support the 12-foot fence, but also called for the school board to present the issue to the public.

"The fence will change the nature of the whole school," said board member Ross Chichester. "It will make it look like Nevada State Prison on Stewart Street."

The fence variance will be heard by the Douglas County Planning Commission on Aug. 14.