LAWRENCE, KS — Just a little over a year after opening a new 98,500-square-foot student recreation center, the University of Kansas is in the process of planning an additional 50,000-square-foot expansion.

“It is a little extraordinary and exciting that we are already preparing for expansions of existing areas such as gymnasiums, racquetball courts, free weight areas and track,” Mary Chappell, director of recreation services, said.

Plans call for doubling the number of gymnasium courts to eight, doubling the size of the free weight area, expanding the current eighth-mile running track to a quarter mile and adding more racquetball courts to the center.

The $6.3 million expansion is needed due to high demand. On a typical day 4,000 students come into the center, and some days the numbers are over 5,000 — far over capacity in certain areas of the $17 million facility.

Chappell said that if all goes as scheduled, the new expansion could open sometime in 2007.

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