Director of Recreational Sports John Horn presented The Associated Students of Madison Student Council Wednesday with a plan outlining a possible overhaul to most recreational facilities on campus.
The proposed renovations are part of Rec Sports’ Master Plan, which was originally introduced in the 2007-’08 school year. According to Horn, a committee decided to re-open the Master Plan for two main reasons: overcrowded facilities and past-due repairs at facilities that have all outlived their “life expectancies” of 30 years.
To compensate for the crowded facilities, the design plans could add more space to the Natatorium and Southeast Recreational Facility, as well as adding a fitness addition to Nielson Tennis Stadium.
With more space, Horn said they would like to allow alumni, the general public and UW hospital employees to have membership access to their facilities.
The potential plans could also add an indoor track to the Nat as well as an indoor field. The indoor field, as well as many outdoor fields, would be synthetic turf so wet fields wouldn’t prevent students from participating in clubs or intramurals.
Horn said they are hoping to get a referendum to students by spring 2014 and until then will be holding forums and educational opportunities to inform students of the plans and get student input.
“In the end it’s going to be up to the students,” Horn said. “We are going to allow students to give us the guidance necessary to put forth a plan we think will pass.”
Council also approved the creation of an Eligibility Criteria Review Committee that will evaluate the eligibility criteria for funding from the General Student Services Fund, which supports certain student groups.
According to Student Services Finance Committee Chair David Vines, there has been concern the eligibility criteria may not be the “best way to ensure that groups have access to resources they need to properly serve students.”
Vines said the committee will convene to discuss problems they see and come up with a proposal for changes to the criteria.
SSFC will review the proposal in the start of the spring semester and ideally vote on it in mid-February, according to Vines. SSFC will then take the proposal to the Student Council for introduction and approval.
