Transitioning to college life can present many challenges for new Ohio University students, but avoiding the ‘Freshman 15’ shouldn’t be one. Whether you like to walk, run, swim, skate or move in a plethora of different ways, OU has several facilities to meet your active desires:
Ping Recreation Center, locat- ed on South Green Drive, is OU’s largest facility devoted to physical fitness.
The building houses a rock climbing wall, five basketball and volleyball courts, a four-lane indoor running track and eight racquetball courts, among other amenities.
A variety of fitness classes are also offered every day free of charge to students.
Many students don’t realize that Ping isn’t their only option though, said Joe Wakeley, director of OU’s Aquatic Center.
“I don’t think most realize the availability that they have,” Wakeley said.
The Aquatic Center, located on West Green next to Grover Center, features a 50 meter by 25 yard indoor swimming pool that’s available for students, faculty and community members.
OU students can enjoy recreational or lap swimming and academic classes such as kayaking or scuba diving.
Club water polo and swimming and the women’s Division I swimming and diving team also use the facility.
“I think that the Aquatic Center could be a great resource to students,” Wakeley said.
Right next to the Aquatic Center is another facility available for student fitness: Bird Ice Arena.
“Ping has the normal jogging, exercise, but ... skating is a good lower body workout,” said Eric Adelsberger, a manager at Bird Arena.
Recreational skating is free for students, with a skate rental fee of $3.50 for those without their own pair.
The facility is used for recreational skating and hockey, figure skating and academic classes among other activities.
“Skating’s not the easiest thing to start with. ... You have to have a open mind when you’re skating,” Adelsberger said.
As of Fall Semester, students will also be able to use a new facility on OU’s campus.
The Walter Fieldhouse is an indoor multipurpose facility located next to Peden Stadium, OU’s football facility.
The fieldhouse features a full-size football field, a four-lane practice track and a pit for pole vaulting and long jump. Its primary use will be by the university’s Division I athletic teams.
“The facility will be used for student recreational use quite a bit,” said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student Affairs, in an email.
The building will be used by club and intramural sports teams during the week from about 5 p.m. to midnight, he said.
Administrators are currently trying to schedule time on the weekend for student recreation outside of organized teams, which won’t carry an additional cost to students.
OU’s golf course and tennis courts are also available for use at a discounted price to students.
The golf course, located behind Ping Center, features nine holes. A typical 9-hole session during the week for a student costs $10.
Four indoor and six outdoor tennis courts are located next to Ping, with a $5 hourly fee for student use of the indoor courts. There is no cost to students for use of the outdoor courts.
OU offers a range of activities for students to stay fit, said Wakeley.
“I would look around at all the opportunities that are out there, not just one area,” he said.
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PING RECREATION CENTER
Monday - Friday: 6:30a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday/Sunday: 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. *Times are subject to change
AQUATIC CENTER
LAP SWIMMING:
Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. RECREATIONAL SWIMMING: Monday/Wed./Friday: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday/Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
BIRD ICE ARENA
RECREATIONAL SKATING:
Tuesday: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday: 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday: 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday: 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
WALTER FIELDHOUSE
Schedule to be determined
GOLF COURSE
Spring, Summer and Fall:
Sunday - Saturday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Winter: Sunday - Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
TENNIS COURTS
Spring, Summer and Fall:
Sunday - Saturday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Winter: Sunday - Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
