Saturday, June 7, 2008
Renovation work has cut down on space and moved exercise equipment at the Student Recreation Fitness Center, causing students to change their workout habits.
The temporary changes include the moving of cardio machines and limiting of free weights, which should be restored within two weeks.
The construction, which will add 45,000 square feet of exercise space to the existing center, is slated to wrap up by fall.
“We’re closing in on the home stretch,” said Mary Chappell, director of recreation services at the University of Kansas. “People can finally see some things happening. Hopefully it will be ready to roll pretty quickly and those here for the summer will get to enjoy some new space.”
In the meantime, KU students have approached the inconvenience in varying ways.
Some, such as Josh Decker, Bronson senior, work out at the recreation center despite the shuffled equipment.
“The construction kind of throws off my routine,” Decker said. “But it’s not a huge deal.”
Decker, who said he had visited the recreation center seven or eight times since the start of summer, said he had not purchased a membership at a private health club because of the cost.
Alternative fitness club options in Lawrence include the Lawrence Athletic Club and Body Boutique. The Lawrence Athletic Club has two locations, each with free weight and cardio equipment. Body Boutique is a women’s fitness center and spa that offers general workout equipment and group classes.
Body Boutique manager Carrie Forster said the number of KU students purchasing memberships had increased in the past year.
Though Lawrence Athletic Club owner Rick Sells said his gym’s student membership numbers were just one-third of what they were before the KU recreation center opened, about 300 students still have memberships at the club.
“The LAC is nowhere near as busy as the rec,” said Hans Tregear, a Wichita senior and Lawrence Athletic Club member. “It’s a more relaxing atmosphere, and you can go at any time instead of 5:30 in the morning to get a workout in.”
Chappell said attendance at the KU recreation center did not drop off noticeably when the renovations moved inside, and she expected summer pass sales to top last year’s totals. Students who are not enrolled in summer classes are required to purchase a summer pass to the recreation center. Passes cost $34.
Despite the increased student interest, overcrowding should only be an issue for the next several weeks: Chappell said the new free weight area would be about twice the size of the old space. The full expansion also includes an expanded track and new basketball and racquetball courts.
“For those who have been hearing us talk about it and waiting for it to come, I would hope they are getting a little excited,” Chappell said. “Once we get the expansion piece open, there’s going to be a lot to be excited about.”
—Edited by Rustin Dodd
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