Washburn approves $10 million athletic plan

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Washburn University’s Board of Regents approved new multi-million dollar athletic plan. It includes improvements to the football locker room, tennis complex, a new tailgate plaza and enhanced pedestrian pathways.

“The locker room just hasn’t been touched for years, and it was just time for a face lift for that area,” Washburn Athletic Director Loren Ferre said. “It will help us attract the recruits that we want and shows the commitment back to the programs.”

These improvements are apart of the university’s “Athletic Corridor Master Plan,” which would feature improvements along College Avenue from Durow Road to Southwest 18th Street. The plan will be entirely privately funded.

The plan includes:

• Tennis complex improvements
  • $2.5 million-$3 million.
  • Expand the width of the tennis courts, add lighting and enhance fan seating.
• Tailgate Plaza
  • $1 million-$1.5 million.
  • Enhance a parking lot and improve landscaping for tailgating and add a small stage as a campus event space.
• Pathway enhancements
  • $500,000-$1 million.
  • Extend the lane north of tennis to connect College Avenue and Mulvane Street for access to the center of the campus.
  • Enhance the pedestrian pathway along the west side of College Avenue and improve the walkway to/from the Northwest entrance doors to Petro Allied Health Center.
• Football Locker Room renovation
  • Expand the Football Locker Room and renovate the existing space to include a lounge space and media area.

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