News

Rec. center planners eye lot near DTAV

By Elizabeth Deprey

Posted on Feb. 05, 2004, at 12:00 a.m.

Sites for the University of Maine’s new student recreation center have been narrowed down to two currently unused lots. The “leading candidate” is the lot near the Doris Twitchell Allan Village, called the “Rangeley Lot,” according to UMaine spokesman Joe Carr.

The lot is located across from the University of Maine Credit Union, next to DTAV. The second lot under consideration is behind Stewart Commons. Both lots were selected from eight available sites.

A public forum will be held on Feb. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bangor Room of Memorial Union to discuss both sites.

“[It would] be an awesome site … students could look up the hill and see it,” said Kenda Scheele, director of Campus Recreation, describing the center as “like a beacon, with lots of light and glass.”

The other main entrance to campus is dominated by the Alfond Arena, and the upper entrance could likewise showcase the new building, she said.

The process has been a collaborative effort between the Rec. Center Steering committee, the Campus Planning Committee and UMaine administration.

“It took a very long time to discuss a large number of sites,” Gagnon said.

The center will cover 85,000 square feet and will have a three-court gym, an indoor jogging track, two racquetball courts, two multipurpose rooms, a lap/leisure pool, a whirlpool and sauna and a weight/fitness area. It will also have a juice bar, locker rooms and an equipment checkout zone. Funding for the $25 million project was approved last September.

The final site selection will be made by President Peter Hoff.

The Rec. Center is scheduled to be completed September of 2006.

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