Students are learning off campus. Athletics are on hold. It’s a dark time, as measures are taken to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
But COVID-19 can’t completely darken Durango High School. Durango School District 9-R athletic director Ryan Knorr said Friday that DHS would join a movement of turning on stadium lights on campus from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Monday.
“We are going to turn the stadium lights on as a symbol to our community that our school is missing and thinking about our students during this odd time in our history,” Knorr said. “This is also a sign of hope. We will eventually return to normalcy. We will eventually have games and competition back in our stadium in the future.”
Though the lights will be on, stadium fences and gates will still be locked. Athletes, teams and the general public are not permitted to use the stadium at this time with a stay-at-home order in place.
The Colorado High School Activities Association has suspended all spring sports through at least April 18, and Durango 9-R schools are closed and conducting courses online through at least April 17.
“We want to emphasize that this is not an invitation for any sort of public gathering,” Knorr said. “This should be observed from afar.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
