Oleai Sports Complex undergoes improvements

Significant improvements at the Oleai Sports Complex have been seen since the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association took over the management of the facility about two months ago.

A cleaner and more welcoming complex is now greeting the public as regular maintenance work is being done at the complex and old fixtures are either replaced or improved.

“We hired a ground maintenance crew to spruce up the entire area, including the fence line at the eastern side of the track facility, which is now visible from the main road. It used to be a jungle. The crew is maintaining the ground two to three times a week,” NMASA executive director Tony Rogolifoi said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

As for the restrooms, which have been a cause of concern for majority of the users of the complex, Rogolifoi said they went through a major facelift. The complex staff replaced all bathroom sets in the men’s and women’s rooms at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

“We also replaced old and dilapidated doors, toilet sets, and lavatories at the restrooms facing the track facility. These restrooms we re-opened for use after sitting idle for almost a decade,” Rogolifoi said.

The two ballfields—Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield and Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan Ballfield—and their surrounding areas have been cleaned and improved, while the floor at the Ada Gym was polished. The office inside the gym was reorganized and bad smell from the old and dirty carpets were gone.

“It (office) looks a lot cleaner and more presentable to the public,” Rogolifoi said.

At the “Tan Ge” field, tall grasses, bushes, and overgrown trees at the old batting cage area near the Sun Palace Hotel were cut and cleared. At the “Tan Ko” field, the concrete portion of the window facing the bleachers on the first base side on the second floor of the press box was demolished and replaced with a new solid wood door for easy access to the outside extension. Rogolifoi added they demolished old louver windows at the press box and installed new sliding glass windows.

With these developments, Rogolifoi said they are asking for the public’s cooperation in keeping the complex clean. He also urged the public to follow usage rules on the facilities around the complex.

“With NMASA having jurisdiction over the Oleai Sports Complex as of October, we are mandated to ensure that we comply with established laws that created this body. Included in this law is the authority vested in this sports body to levy and collect reasonable fees for the use of these facilities. We have started implementing these fees and thus far, it is working out as we had expected. NMASA will release the final fee schedule to take effect in January. In the meantime, we ask the public’s patience and understanding as we are working diligently to upgrade these facilities before the full slate of sports activities kicks off in the upcoming months,” Rogolifoi said.

“I would advise the public using the track facility for their daily fitness routine to be careful while walking or running on the track as some sections of the rubberized surface poses danger. Soccer activities are held almost on a daily basis and I asked players to be alerted when crossing the track to retrieve balls. Track events are also held at this facility and the public is advised to use only the designated lanes and to respect these athletes while training or competing,” the NMASA executive director added.

Rogolifoi also said more upgrades at the complex are lined up for next year. For more information about the usage and reservation of the facilities, call 234-6672.