Jamestown (CSi)  Representatives of University of Jamestown  and James River Family Fitness  have met to discuss the timeline for the various stages of the renovation and expansion of athletic facilities on the UJ campus.

UJlettersSmallBuilt in 1980, the Larson Center on the University’s campus originally housed the Jamestown YMCA (now James River Family Fitness) and provided athletic space for just seven varsity teams and 200 student-athletes. In the ensuing years, the number of varsity sports offered at the University has grown to 16 and the number of student-athletes exceeds 500. During this same period, enrollment at the University has grown from just over 400 to nearly 1000 students.

University of Jamestown President, Robert S. Badal, says, “For over three decades, the space has served the community and the University.   However, we are currently in the unfortunate situation where it is no longer serving either party well. The University has begun planning for the renovation and addition to the space to meet the needs of a growing student population.”

Expansion plans for the University will begin this spring with the addition of a turf field on the south side of the Larson Center. As the University’s expansion plans continue to move forward, James River Family Fitness President, Rachel Liechty,  says the proposed Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC) would be the new home of JRFF.

JamesRiverFamilyFitnessMs. Liechty says, “We are excited about TRAC being a vital part of meeting the needs of families in our community.  Due to a variety of circumstances, JRFF needs to find a new location. TRAC would provide that needed space as JRFF would dissolve and become part of TRAC under the guidance of Jamestown Parks and Recreation.

She adds, “JRFF is Jamestown’s only full service family fitness center and provides many services to the community, including scholarships for youth fitness and is a major daycare provider in our city.  Being part of TRAC would enable us to continue to offer a Learning Center for children, an aquatics areas for young and old, an enclosed turf surface for year round use, and a focus on family activities which will help attract new people to our community.”

James River Family Fitness Director, Frank  Conlon adds, “We feel that both the University of Jamestown plus the city and surrounding community would benefit from the approval of TRAC. The University’s athletics would flourish with more practice space and more convenient practice times, while the members of TRAC would also have newer and better facilities and equipment at their disposal for their use. It would help to improve the health and welfare of the residents of Jamestown and the surrounding areas.”

Further discussions will be scheduled throughout the University’s expansion to allow the JRFF as much time as possible to notify their membership of the timetable once it has been established. Dr. Badal says, “We have partnered with YMCA and now JRFF in providing the community with access to fitness programs, it is our intent to continue supporting the community of Jamestown in pursuing options for such programs.”