Aggie Recreation Center and Legacy Fields Will Benefit Students

Aggie Recreation Center and Legacy Fields Will Benefit Students

Utah State’s 2009 ASUSU President, Tyler Tolson had a vision of expanding the current recreation center and HPER Field that students were using. Some campus officials and students thought this would never take place, but with new Vice President of student services, Dr. James Morales, Tolson and Morales gained the support of the not only Utah State but Cache Valley and the facility plans were passes through legislation. 

This $35 million dollar project will include several different facility space including: open recreation use, intramural sports, club sports, non-credit bearing fitness and wellness classes, campus organizations, university special events and general student use. Students will also have access to several full size basketball and volleyball courts and study lounges. 

 The Legacy Fields will also a part of this project. It includes covering the the HPER Fields with synthetic turf field and adding park-like lighting. These fields will be easier to maintain because of the turf and students will have access to them year-round.

The Legacy Fields project will cost an estimated $1.985 million dollars and will be located adjacent to the new Aggie Recreation Center.  

With Utah State’s student population continually growing and more students participating in outdoor activities, the field space is in high demand. USU currently uses the HPER field for many things such as: non-credit bearing activity classes, intramurals, special events, camps, practices, club sports and dances. With this amount of usage, the HPER Fields can not meet the campus needs. 

Matt Welch, a member of an intramural football team, said that practicing on the HPER Field has always been a challenge.

“You never know what the field conditions will be like or when there will be space for you to practice,” Welch said. “It is difficult when you are practicing for an intramural game and then a club team comes outside and takes over the field.”

“Having new fields will benefit several club teams as well as students,” Welch said.

Garret Wallace, a member of the Utah State club baseball team uses the HPER Field often. Wallace has scheduled practices on the field several times a week during baseball season. 

Wallace said the biggest challenge for him is not having the appropriate field conditions for practice. 

“I am very excited for the Legacy Fields project. I know that having a turf field to practice on will benefit us and be easier during practice,” Wallace said.

Intramural referee, Kierstin Parker, also thinks that the Aggie Recreation Center and Legacy Fields project will benefit students as well as provide safer fields to play on. 

“It is difficult to referee games when conditions are poor. You see more injuries and people are less likely to participate when they don’t have a good field to play on. The turf will be better for intarmurals and I think that more people will be involved,” Parker said.

A. Davis