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Recreation areas are planned for the land where University Hall currently stands. The implosion of the high-rise is postponed until October.

Recreation areas planned for students

By: Sara Irvin

Posted: 9/11/09

ASU plans to utilize land made available after the implosion of University Hall later this fall to offer more recreational and sports opportunities for students.

Originally planned to take place Sept. 20, the implosion of the 10-story high rise has been delayed until mid to late October as a result of unforeseen issues in removing asbestos in certain areas of the building.

According to President Dr. Joseph C. Rallo, the reason for the addition of new recreation areas is to better accommodate students not originally from the area.

"More and more students are coming from farther and farther away," Rallo said. "One of my goals is to transition this institution to a truly residential campus."

Rallo hopes these areas will provide more activities for students and meet their needs outside the classroom.

"We've already closed that little piece of Dena," Rallo said, referring to a section of Dena Drive between Varsity Drive and Van Buren Street. "That'll be chopped up and we're going to create basketball courts and volleyball courts and a green space… to meet students' needs, demands and desires to be here on the weekend and evenings."

The Pavilion, Rallo said, will also be moved "to make it a bit more aesthetically pleasing."

John Russell, director of Facilities, Planning and Construction, said he hopes for construction to begin in October.

"Our goal is to create space that can be used for recreation, both organized and unorganized, including areas of gathering and contemplating and a jogging path," Russell said. "We want an outdoor environment where [students] can relax, play, jog, read and just visit."

The outdoor jogging path appealed to sophomore Cala Norris.

"I would use it," Norris said. "I run on the treadmill at the CHP (Center for Human Performance) right now."

Senior James O'Neal thought students would appreciate the addition of an outdoor pool.

"You know, since we already have an indoor one at the CHP," he said.

According to Rallo, the university is also considering use of ASU land between Foster Field and Knickerbocker Road.

"When the master plan was done here years ago they identified about 17 acres of land to use for possible commercial development between the university and local businesses," he said.

Aware of a need for more housing, Rallo said students have expressed specific needs for married and graduate student housing.

The new university facility would be for students over 21 and could also be beneficial to Air Force officers.

"I've worked with Goodfellow Air Force Base and they have about 80 to 100 young officers a year who come on that can't live on the base because there's no housing for them," Rallo said.

The city of San Angelo, Rallo said, expects to receive federal stimulus dollars and may use them to build a municipal court in the area.

"So if you look at the pieces of the puzzle," he said, "we have the new residential facility for ASU for [students] over 21 and some of those apartments could go to Goodfellow officers, some retail, and possibly a municipal court."