The planning process for up to 10 new intramural fields on campus could begin within the next two weeks.
In its meeting on Monday, the Facilities Fee Committee decided to move forward on a proposal that began last semester.
If passed, it would allow for the creation of eight to 10 new intramural fields, estimated to be completed by 2011. Facilities Project Manager for the Office of Physical Plant (OPP) Chad Spackman presented preliminary plans.
Proposed to be built on University Drive and Park Avenue, the new facilities would include parking spaces, restrooms and a first aid facility, Spackman said, adding that there would be real grass. The Athletic Department would be respon-sible for the new fields' upkeep, he said.
In order to begin the conversion, a preliminary survey of the fields and design process would have to be run, Spackman said, which would take about three months. From there, he said, local and state municipalities will have to approve the construction.
Spackman estimated the total costs to fall between $2.5 million and $3.5 million in total and said he hopes the fields would be ready to be played on by 2011. Intramural sports teams, club teams and various camp programs would benefit from the expansion of the fields, he said.
Gavin Keirans, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) president and co-chair of the committee said he's glad to be moving forward with a major project but recognized the decision has required a substantial amount of conversation.
"Anytime you're talking about millions of dollars in student fees, you really need to be careful," Keirans (senior-business management) said.
The next step to get the conversion of the fields underway is to have the proposal passed through UPUA's assembly, Keirans said, adding that OPP Director of Campus Planning and Design Gordon Turow will speak to the assembly at its Nov. 4 general meeting.
If it is passed through the assembly in two weeks, it will go back to the committee, which will vote on the proposal. OPP can then begin its survey of the fields and design process, something Spackman said could take up to three months.
Alfonso Mendoza, president of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and co-chair of the committee, said he realized there would be some "growing pains" in the committee that is only a year old but added he had hoped to have more concrete plans by the end of the meeting on Monday.
"The fact that we're delayed by days, maybe weeks, is disappointing," Mendoza (graduate-materials science and engineering) said.
Mendoza and the other GSA representative on the committee have been empowered to speak on behalf of GSA in its entirety, Mendoza said. He said he feels UPUA should have the same power to speak on behalf of the assembly, adding the key component of the committee is that they are an advisory board.
"I'm looking forward to the next meeting," Mendoza said.
