By Lauren Jennings |Staff Writer|
“CSUSB plans to expand the Rec Center to re-energize the campus and to create a fun environment for students to enjoy while on campus”, said Rick Craig, director of the Student Recreation and Fitness Center (Rec Center).
The current Rec Center has been deemed “too small” to be used to its full potential.
“This includes overcrowding, long wait times for equipment, and a first-come, first-serve basis for certain facilities inside the center”, Craig said.
Craig said that he is currently working with architects and students to begin the expansion process.
The economy is getting better, so it has been determined that the Rec Center can finally receive the upgrade that the school has been hoping for.
An open forum held Wednesday, June 3 allowed students to discuss ideas, hopes, needs, and expectations for the enlargement.
During the meeting, plans from the architects were unveiled as well as comparisons to recreational facilities in other campuses. This helped provide a visual of the potential impact the expansion can have.
The forum was more so in a “silent auction” format as opposed to an outright discussion.
Upbeat music and multicolored lights were used to draw students to the Santos Manuel Student Union (SMSU) lobby.
Students were given green and red stickers along with post-it notes to voice their opinions and ideas directly on the display boards.
Posters were placed in a large circle with proposed additions for the Rec Center.
Students placed green stickers on ideas they thought would be beneficial and red stickers on ideas they didn’t support.
Ideas for the Rec Center included a trampoline room, a foam pit, multiple rock climbing walls, and a bowling alley, just to name a few.
The outside walls surrounding the idea boards were dedicated to questions that students could respond to by using the post-it notes provided.
“I think that there could’ve been some improvements explanation-wise, like some idea of what each would cost and bring to the table. Other than that, I feel like they did a pretty good job as far as visualizing in a hip way,” said business administration major Franklin Miranda.
Students were asked questions about relieving stress, recreational activities they’d like to see on campus, and what would enhance their college experience.
“The Rec Center already has pretty cool stuff, like the water massage bed and all the good exercise equipment, but I want to see it be bigger,” said psychology major Suleica Del Rio.
One of the main reasons for the expansion is to help provide a place for students to visit with friends and get a workout in.
The expansion means more space, more equipment, equating to less wait times, if any.
More space also means more room for facilities to be used for exercise classes and pick-up sports games.
The expansion will continue to be planned throughout the year, with estimated costs and architectural designs to be revealed in the fall.
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