The Department of Recreation and Wellness has seen major changes to its facilities over the past few years. The overhaul of the student recreation center was completed in the fall of 2014 and the turf room in the Perry Field House recently made the transition from AstroTurf to a field turf. The most recent renovation, revamping the track room in the Field House, is just about wrapped up.
The Field House opened in 1993, according to the Department of Recreation and Wellness’ website. Over two decades old, the track room needed to be updated.
Director of Recreation and Wellness for the University Steve Kampf said that discussion of a new track was tossed around and decided upon in the spring of this year. Construction on the track room was underway by mid-October. Now, just a few months later, the project is just about finished, with contractors just wrapping up a few loose ends.
This project included resurfacing the track, which is used primarily by the indoor track and field team, as well as refinishing the hardwood floors of the three basketball courts that are circumscribed by the track.
Refinishing the basketball courts is the second step in the restoration process and will occur over winter break.
“When we get back for spring semester, (the Field House) will look like a brand new facility,” Kampf said.
Although the renovations were a necessary step in maintaining the condition of Field House facilities, the construction has kept student athletes out of their regular practice area.
The renovations have caused slight hiccups in scheduling with intramurals, one group of students that use the track room in the Field House
Scott Sehmann, assistant director of intramural sports and sport clubs, said. “We had to be a little bit creative to make scheduling work.”
Some of the teams had to compete in the Student Rec Center since work started in the Field House earlier this year.
Three-player basketball, team handball, badminton and footsol had to make the switch to the Rec Center. However, holding games in the Rec Center ended up bringing more attention to intramurals.
“In a way, it was a good way to get more activity on the new Mac court at the Rec Center,” Sehmann said.
They are now looking to keep several of the intramural and club sports at the Rec Center.
Not only were intramurals affected by the renovations, but the University’s track and field teams were as well. The track room was just reopened for the collegiate athletes a few weeks ago, but the team had been holding practices outside. The track room opened up to all students last week.
The Perry Field House project is almost finished, but Recreation and Wellness is not done upgrading their facilities. The pool room in the Rec Center is the next venture, including an installation of energy-efficient lighting, bleachers and a better quality sound system.
Kampf said that the renovations of athletic buildings across campus is “just another example of taking our facilities and upgrading them… just keeping up with aging buildings and making sure they are properly maintained.”
