Students to Benefit from New Recreational Fields
Bluefield College is in the process of developing a new recreational tract on the south portion of campus that will provide additional recreational space for students and new practice fields for outdoor athletic teams.
Located across College Avenue from the main campus and adjacent to the Advancement and Alumni House, the new development will provide space for everyday student recreation and for intramural sports like flag football, ultimate frisbee, and softball.
In addition, BC field-oriented athletic teams like women’s softball, men’s baseball, and men’s and women’s soccer will benefit from the new outdoor space.
“We are hopeful students can begin using the fields as soon as the start of the 2019-2020 academic year,” said Josh Arnold, associate vice president for student development. “We are focused on the grooming and seeding of the upper field so that our students can begin using the field for recreation and athletic purposes in August.”
The first phase of development began in December 2018 and included the completion of excavation work on an upper field. Arnold said the excavation company will return next winter to complete the lower field so that two fields will be available for use by August 2020.
The fields are being developed on 11 acres of land donated to the college by the late Katharine B. Tierney, a former Bluefield College trustee. The property has laid dormant since the college took possession nearly 30 years ago — that is until plans for its development were added to the college’s Campus Master Plan.
“We are trying to achieve the field project of the vision that went into the creation of the 2018 Campus Master Plan,” President David Olive said. “Whether the property ever transitions into game venues remains to be seen.”
BC leaders say artificial surfaces and lighting are also envisioned, but those items won’t be added until adequate resources are acquired.
“I love how we can have another recreational center we can go to,” said Jeree Willie, a current BC football player. “It can help us better our craft and the goals that we are trying to achieve.”