After gathering additional compelling data around usage and analyzing a variety of options in collaboration with AEC, Recreational Sports reaffirms the proposal to construct two new soccer-sized artificial turf fields located off Hubbard Road on North Campus to replace fields that will be displaced by the Central Campus Residential Development (see attached graphic). In addition to soccer, the fields will accommodate lacrosse, rugby, women’s ultimate, and flag football, serving as critical space for student health and well-being by supporting many Intramural Sports programs, Club Sports practices and competitions, student drop-in use, and other Recreational Sports programs provided for students, faculty, and staff. In total, around 24,000 students use our fields for student organization events each year, and an additional 4,700 unique students use the fields for Club Sports and Intramural Sports each year.
The scope of the project includes significant re-grading and soil balancing for eight acres of the site with fifteen-foot elevation differences, construction of retaining walls necessary for soil stabilization, including required fall protection barriers due to the height, installation of netting for ball control, stormwater management, and field lighting configured to minimize stray lighting beyond the fields. Due to the site topography, the project will displace a portion of parking spaces in the existing lot and replace those with a similar amount along Hubbard Road. Access to the site will not be controlled with fencing or other barriers and will be accessible to the community when not reserved in advance.