Parking Addition, Football Practice Fields Targeted for Fall 2012 Completion

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Campus and athletic department officials received approval from the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, on Thursday, on a revised capital project proposal for the Razorback Football Center that will help maintain campus parking previously eliminated from the project.

The approved proposal will result in the addition of approximately 217 parking spaces to be located under the east football practice field. University officials had previously approved the elimination of the parking element of the project to fall in line with the preliminary $35 million budget. Razorback Athletics requested that parking be added back into the project to help accommodate increased campus parking needs.

The proposal also outlined the requirement for additional site utility work to utilize the site for the football center. The revised estimated cost of the football center and parking project is $40.31 million. The total includes an estimated $28.86 million for the football center, $8.96 million for the practice fields and parking addition, and $2.49 million to accommodate the additional site work required. The $40.31 million project, including the additional cost incurred with the parking addition, will be funded by the $10 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, the $25 million in bonds approved and issued by the Board of Trustees and by athletic revenues and designated gifts. 

“We felt it was very important to include the parking addition in the final project for the benefit of the entire campus community,” said Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “By adding campus parking spaces underneath the practice fields, we will be able to better accommodate students, faculty and staff for daily campus use, including spaces in close proximity to the HPER (Health, Physical and Recreation Building). In addition, the parking can be used by those attending campus and athletic events at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Barnhill Arena and at other nearby venues. While it will come with an increased cost, we see this as a great long-term investment to meet the needs of a growing student enrollment and Razorback fans.”

As an addendum to the project, the University of Arkansas’ department of campus utilities will commission and fund improvements to the campus utility infrastructure at an estimated cost of $2.56 million. The improvements will enhance the university’s utility system and will serve the entire campus.

The football center, as all facilities outlined in the recently announced University of Arkansas Athletic Facilities Master Plan, was developed in coordination with overall campus Master Growth Plan. The football center is the second project and the first new facility to be constructed as part of the Athletic Facilities Master Plan. Last spring, a renovation and expansion of the women’s soccer locker room was completed.

The 82,000-square-foot football center will include a new locker room, team meeting rooms, athletic training room, equipment room, a student-athlete lounge and study area, coaches’ offices, a recruiting reception area and a football museum celebrating the tradition of Razorback Football. The groundbreaking ceremony for the football center was held on Nov. 4, 2011, and is currently being constructed immediately south of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium adjacent to the Walker Family Training Center. Football practice fields currently at that location will be relocated to the south side of the Walker Family Training Center.

Completion of the practice fields and the parking addition is targeted for Fall 2012. The football center is scheduled for completion in the summer or spring of 2013.

For more information regarding Razorback Athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.