MONDAY,AUGUST 18,2003
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • 11A
Neighborhood fears impact of new fitness center
By Amanda Kim Stairrett
astairrett@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Looking to the south side of campus, students see a new, $13.5 million recreation fitness center that replaces worn facilities at Robinson Center. But when 260 households in the University Place neighborhood look north, they see an intrusion into their way of life.
"The building is like Wal-Mart in its size and scale," said Caleb Morse, past University Place Neighborhood Association president.
When residents first heard about plans for the development of the 96,000-square-foot center they were worried about the amount of traffic, noise, light and water runoff the building would produce at 1704 Watkins Center Drive.
The University of Kansas and the
building's architect and planning consultation firm, the Ken Ebert Design Group, took the surrounding neighborhood into consideration when developing the plans.
"We were very concerned about lighting, building orientation, sight lines, green space and mechanical equipment noise," said Mike Mayo, vice president of the design group.
Exterior basketball courts with bright lights were built on the east side of the building, away from houses. Loud music is banned on the courts and lights will turn off at midnight. A significant concern for neighborhood members was the massive air-conditioning equipment that is typically located on roofs. The University went to great lengths to locate the noisiest elements of the machinery to the basement.
On Aug.28, trees and shrubs will be planted along the alley on the east side of the facility. This will provide privacy and prevent erosion. Rainwater retainment areas were placed on the site to prevent water from flooding the basements of University Place homes.
"We are doing all different kinds of things to foster a relationship and build rapport with the neighborhood," said Mary Chappell, director of Recreation Services.
when the idea of a student recreation fitness center was introduced in 1996, it was planned for West Campus at 23rd and Iowa streets. According to Chappell, the proposal failed because a lack of infrastructure away from the main campus.
University Place extends from the north side of 19th Street to the south side of the main campus and from the east side of Arkansas Street to the east side of Louisiana Street.
Residents are feeling the squeeze from the University on one side and Lawrence High
School on the other. According to a survey commissioned by the neighborhood, parking and traffic flow is a continuing problem.
To alleviate some of the problems, a section of 18th Street in front of the recreation center recently became one-way. The city of Lawrence installed the diverter at the request of the University.
Even with the new measures, University Place residents are still concerned about traffic.
Jonathan Earle, past Neighborhood president and assistant professor of history pointed out that many residents with complaints are University employees.
"We all love the University and we want it to do well," Earle said. "The students deserve it."
The Student Recreation Fitness Center is set to open on Sept. 4 with a grand opening ceremony on Sept. 25.
Edited by Scott Christie
Sean Smith/Kansan
CENTER: Designed for students
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
All of the money spent to build and maintain the recreation center comes from student recreation fees. These fees were raised in 1999 after students passed a referendum for the recreation center to be built.
This semester, $62 of a student's campus fees will be applied to pay off the $17 million worth of bonds that went towards the construction of the center, Chappell said.
Last year, Recreation Services employed about 300 students, Chappell said. She estimated that with the opening of the new recreation center, that number would increase to more than 400.
"We want this to be a student-run, student-friendly place," Chappell said. "And it will take a lot of students to run this big place all day long."
Unlike Robinson, which is unavailable during weekdays
"We want this to be a student-run,studentfriendly place,and it will take a lot of students to run this big place all day long."
Mary Chappeil director of recreation services
because of classroom activity,the recreation center will be open to students from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday.
"That kind of access is so important and we're excited to be able to offer that to students," Chappell said.
And students such as Evanhoe are excited to take advantage of it.
No excuses now.
"If it's as cool as they say it is,
I'll have to check it out," Evanhoe said.
"Maybe I even workout."
—Edited by Neeley Spellmeier
The basketball court floors in the Student Recreation Center are to be installed soon. Once finished, there will be four full-sized courts.
Megan True/Kansan
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