UIU to host ‘Rally for the Rec Center’

Giant Jenga, bag toss and giant Connect 4 are among the activities scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the “Rally for the Rec Center” at Upper Iowa University’s Fayette Campus Friday, September 7. Community members are invited to join UIU students, faculty and staff during the entertaining and informational event. In addition to the many activities, refreshments will be served including a yogurt and fruit parfait bar. A brief program about the upcoming $1.15 million renovation project, which will benefit both the recreation center and indoor swimming pool at UIU’s Fayette Campus, will be held at 3:30 p.m.

UIU alumni Steve ’73 and Diane ’73 (Kinkead) Harms of West Des Moines, Iowa, have donated $750,000 to the improvement project. In addition to the Harms’ gift and over 150 other private donations, the University has secured a $30,000 contribution over three years from the City of Fayette and a $5,000 pledge from Fayette County. The university is contributing approximately $100,000 to the project.  Recently, Andrew Wenthe, UIU vice president for External Affairs and mayor of Fayette, presented a grant proposal to the Iowa Economic Development Authority Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) Board seeking $230,000 in funding support.

“The facility upgrades of our student recreation center and swimming pool will provide endless opportunities to engage our Campus community, support the success of our students, and improve the physical fitness and overall wellness of our entire UIU family,” UIU Assistant Dean of Student Life Daryl Grove said.  “The tremendous number of donors shows how important this facility is to not only our students but also our partners and the community at large in northeast Iowa.”

The Rec Center was constructed in 2001 and includes a weight and fitness room, UIU’s wrestling facility, a group fitness room, an upper and lower three-lane track, ceiling-suspended batting cages, male and female locker rooms with showers, and basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton courts. The renovations include replacing flooring throughout the 40,000 sq. ft. facility with multipurpose flooring and upgrading the HVAC system.

Located in the basement of the Edgar Fine Arts building at Fayette Campus, the pool features four 20-yard lanes and is furnished with a variety of recreational and aqua workout equipment. The pool area will be enhanced with upgrades to water filtration and chemical storage and renovations to the pool walls, decking and locker room area.

UIU and other area community members who utilize the Rec Center are encouraged to consider a donation to this enhancement project. Donations can be made online at uiu.edu/alumni/give.html or be sent to the UIU Alumni Office at P.O. Box 1857, Fayette, IA 52142.