SRC Tour Reflection

The tour of the Student Recreational Center was an informative tour and showed many useful aspects of the facility that one may not have noticed. Although there are some useful aspects in the Rec Center, some elements could use improvement. After reading chapters 13, 16, 17, and 18, I have gained a better knowledge of certain recommendations that should be considered when building a facility such as, the Recreational Center.

Cardio and Strength Training:
When inspecting the weight room of the Recreational Center I believe BGSU has and is making strides to meeting standard recommendations. There are two types of lifting options such as free weights and machines for strength training. Around the weight room you will find the free weights place in the front of the facility weight room and the machines in the back. There is a theme within the alignment of the machines; they are placed in rows providing enough space between each machine. Along with the two different types of lifting options, there is also a variety of muscle groups that each machine and free weight target. Because of the placement of the free weights in the front of the area and machines in the back maximum usage is being used throughout the room. These are all recommendations that the Rec Center has meet, which can be found in chapter 17 of our book. When adventuring up to the cardio room there is many machines to be found. Again there are a variety of machines in alignment which target specific areas. From my own experience of working out at the Rec Center, I believe they could improve their cardio room by updating their machines because there is always one or two machines out of order. Also there is an empty corner in the cardio room which used to have bikes in it but they always kept breaking down, so my guess is they got rid of them. This empty concern does not display a good use of maximum capacity. The machines in the weight room could also use some updated material as well. It is surprising to me when Bob Waddle showed the “master plan” that the Rec Center was not a targeted facility to update. The wooden walls surrounding the interior of the Rec Center really presents an outdated appearance.

Sports Centers and Recreation Centers:
The overall inspection of the Student Recreational Center does seem to meet all of the needs developing a Rec Center. We learned that there are three types of activity space found in recreational sports facilities which are; indoor teaching spaces, outdoor teaching spaces, and intramural/general outdoor recreation areas. BGSU Recreational center does have an indoor rock climbing wall, as well as indoor racquetball courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, and swimming pool. Each of these spaces are located near the locker rooms and the Rec Center is located within 10min walking distance of campus. BGSU also provides and outdoor space which is located across from the facility. Many outdoor intramural games are held there such as soccer, football, baseball, and ultimate Frisbee. Next to the facility one can also find a sand volleyball court and a track along the pond. Two different spaces that have been neglected are tennis and an outdoor swimming pool

When comparing the Bowling Green Student Recreation Center to other facilities in the MAC, I would say BGSU cannot compete against some University. Kent State University in particular has an amazing center that one can tell by just looking at the outside of the building. Not only does Kent State offer and updated facility but, they also offer various activities such as adventure trips, crooked river adventures, outdoor clinics, outdoor rental center, and peak summer camps. Kent State provides a fitness suite, located on the lower level of the SRWC, is where you can sign up for fitness assessments and prescriptions, massage, personal training or nutrition appointments. Students can also register for any of the fitness or wellness programs and activities in the fitness suite. After scoping out the Kent Recreation website it seems as if they do not charge and additional fee for fitness classes whereas Bowling Green charges students to attend classe. To the left is a picture of Kent States recreation center. The center consists of five outdoor basketball courts, two outdoor tennis courts, five outdoor sand volleyball courts, three indoor pools. A climbing wall, café, massages, and the list continues. The recreation center has two swimming pools, one whirlpool, a sauna in each locker room, a wallyball court, three squash courts, a weight room, spinning room, cardio area, running track, climbing wall, and sand volleyball court. The fee to use the center is paid for through the general college tuition. Although Bowling Green does provide some of these same activities in their facility there is not nearly as much quantity or quality of equipment and area. Below is a video provided by Kent State on their Recreation website for further information about the center.