Re-creating the Rec Center

The Student Recreation Center is slated for a make-over this year as the Office of Recreation plans to modernize its popular facility. Students can expect new flooring, new paint, updates to the pool, and clean machines to appear during the next several months.

Demond Pryor, director of the Office of Recreation, joined the staff in November and introduced these improvements to the Rec Center. According to Pryor, this project will cost $500,000-$600,000. He said he hopes these improvements will allow more students to visit the facility.

Pryor proposed the project together with Kaye Patten Wallace, the senior vice president of student affairs. Patten Wallace said they felt the University of Toledo needed to provide students with better opportunities.

“I see 3,000 students walk in the Rec a day; it’s a center point for student interaction and involvement. So I wanted to focus on making it a premiere facility for the students,” Patten Wallace said.

The fitness area will receive a new rubberized surface and there will be new carpet added for the first time since the opening of the Rec Center. Painting will be done to the key components of the Rec Center in blue, gray and gold.

Pryor said the goal of this project was to serve and take care of the students.

“This is a part of your tuition so we want you to get the best bang for your buck,” he said.

Patten Wallace said she uses the Rec Center personally, and she wants administrators to enjoy the facility just as much as students and treat it like an upscale gym membership.

“I want our students, faculty and staff to have the same experience at the Rec Center as other facilities,” she said.

Carter Steude, a second-year education major, said he is excited to see the new improvements to the Rec Center and is looking forward to utilizing the facility.

Steude has competed in different intramurals such as sand volleyball, indoor soccer and bubble soccer during the past year and has grown accustomed to what the Rec Center has to offer.

“I’m definitely excited to see what it looks like and I can’t wait to come back for Rec leagues and to just hang out and play sports as well,” he said.

Victoria Gurmuscian, a fourth-year majoring in early childhood
education, is one of the more than 300 student employees at the Rec Center. Although she said she is excited for the improvements, Gurmuscian also said she didn’t see the need for any changes.

“I believe the Rec is already run very well so I can’t think of anything they should change about it,” she said.

As for future projects, Pryor and Patten-Wallace said the Morse Center is looking to be improved as well but gave no timeline.

The main campus Rec Center is set to reopen on Aug. 20 at noon, but the updates will not be finished until late fall or early spring.