97-04-30 Groundbreaking Friday for Recreation Fields

GROUNDBREAKING FRIDAY FOR RECREATION AND INTRAMURAL SPORTS FIELDS

     COLUMBUS -- Groundbreaking ceremonies for a $3.2 million
recreational and intramural sports field at The Ohio State
University will be held Friday (5/2) at 12:30 p.m. at the
northwest corner of Pressey Hall, 1070 Carmack Rd.

     Holly Smith and Mark Berkman, student members of The Ohio
State University Board of Trustees, will discuss the project
overview, followed immediately by breaking of ground by President
E. Gordon Gee and David Williams, vice president for student
affairs, and other members of the Board of Trustees.  A barbecue
will follow at the Jesse Owens West Recreational Center, 1031
Carmack Rd.

     The park, located on the southwest corner of Lane Avenue and
Kenny Road, encompasses some 40 acres.  The land, which slopes 40
feet from one edge to the other, will become a three-tiered park
with three lakes.  It will be home to 20 recreational activities.

     Work has already begun on the fields, with a completion date
of mid-December.  The park will open to public use in the spring
of 1999 to allow a summer growing period for the grass.

     “The park is designed to be visually stimulating, distinct
with valleys and hillsides that create natural viewing areas,”
said Bruce Maurer, associate director of recreational sports. “We
wanted the opportunity to show the quality and commitment to
excellence we can put forth to develop the recreational fields.
The fields offers a wonderful scenic backdrop as the gateway to
the west end of the Columbus campus.”

     Three areas, each separated by a 7-foot slope will create
levels or planes for the park. A wagon-wheel design, holding four
softball fields combined with four flag football fields, will be
cut into a hillside.  The cut will create a natural amphitheater
for spectators.  A service building, picnic area and children’s
play area complete the western plane.

     The central plane will contain four more softball fields,
which can be used as six flag football fields, or two soccer or
rugby fields.  The east plane contains four sand volleyball
courts, two basketball courts, a sledding hill, picnic areas, and
two regulation sized rugby fields that can accommodate lacrosse
and soccer.  A 10-foot wide, one-mile asphalt path circles the
entire complex.  It can be used for wheelchairs, walking,
jogging, cycling, skateboarding or in-line skating.

     Planning for the park began three years ago through
research, focus groups and numerous nationwide site visits. A
total of $3.2 million was allocated for the basic foundation.
Bond proceeds will fund additional construction costs of $1
million for lighting, the children’s play area, scoreboards,
signs, landscaping, and outdoor furnishings.

     John Lawter, a university landscape architect, and Edsall &
Associates developed the design for the fields.

     Maurer said the current recreation fields at King Avenue and
Cannon Drive near the medical complex will be used to construct
an on-off ramp from State Route 315.  Some land will remain in
use as recreation for the University Medical Center and
neighborhood residents.

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CONTACT: Bruce Maurer, associate director of recreational sports,
(614) 292-7671.


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Wed, 30 Apr 1997 14:52:02 -0400 (EDT)]
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