The College’s Board of Trustees is expected to approve the construction of a new field and track for the campus this spring. In announcing the plans, President John E. Klein said the multi-purpose complex “will support our teams’ practices and competitions, as well as our community’s needs for wellness and intramural and physical education activities.”

The new field will be used by many students, including those on athletic teams (especially soccer and lacrosse), in physical education classes, and in intramural sports. This year the College has seen increased interest in intramurals, mirroring a national trend of greater interest in physical activities and well-being. Intramural sports also provide social opportunities for our students.

The field and track (temporarily called the “lower field”) will be built on the current athletic field located adjacent to the Physical Education and Recreation Building (PER) and the tennis courts. This project is beginning in advance of the facilities master plan because the City of Lynchburg has a permanent easement for an underground pipe that runs directly down the center of the existing athletic field. The easement states that no building may ever be constructed over the top of the pipe.

The multi-purpose field will have synthetic turf, allowing maximum use of the field throughout all seasons. Artificial turf has become the norm for new college fields. Although expensive initially, the cost becomes significantly less over time. With no mowing, fertilizing, or reseeding, little maintenance is required. Perhaps the most important reason for using artificial turf is that there is less physical stress on athletes and consequently fewer injuries.

The addition of a new track will be a major boost for the many runners on campus. All athletic teams will use the track. Currently the cross country teams have to be transported to nearby high school tracks for part of their practices. In addition, many students, faculty, and staff choose running as their mode of exercise.

Lighting the field will add a great deal of vitality to campus. Not only will the College be able to schedule night games but lighting will allow additional scheduling of practice times and intramurals.

The new facility will meet the needs for track and field competition should the College decide to add a track team to its athletic roster. It is anticipated that the complex will be used to host high school track meets, special community events (such as Relay for Life), and conference and NCAA championship track meets. The complex plans include permanent seating, restrooms, a press box, and a concession stand.