Northwestern Oklahoma State University

PROJECT PURPOSE

Due to the pandemic, outdoor recreation and exercise opportunities have grown significantly. More people want opportunities to exercise outside instead of our traditional wellness centers and weight rooms. Northwestern Oklahoma State University would like to request funding to renovate our outdoor tennis courts where additional areas of interest would be added to meet our community needs. Northwestern?s outdoor recreation space is the only area in Alva for tennis and other outdoor sports. Northwestern students, public school students, and our community use this facility and Northwestern feels it can redesign it to accommodate multiple uses. A recent survey done by our wellness center staff indicated several areas in which Northwestern could utilize this space for expansion of different activities and recreation. This renovation would add pickleball courts, basketball courts, a walking track, as well as leaving tennis courts available to all members of our community. In addition, we would like to add multiple sand volleyball courts with available seating and lighting to provide a safe and inviting area for people within the community of Alva to enjoy. Quotes and plans have been secured in anticipation of funds being granted to move forward quickly with this project.

EVIDENCE

Northwestern Oklahoma State University recently conducted a survey through our wellness center. Over 150 members of our student body and community gave vital information to help craft this plan and move it forward. Our executive vice president has met with public school officials, and our city manager to gauge how this could impact all stakeholders. All stakeholders overwhelmingly support this project and understand the impact this could have long term for our rural community. This investment in our rural community would have a tremendous impact over a long period of time.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

This renovated outdoor facility at Northwestern Oklahoma State University would benefit students at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, K-12 public school students in Alva Public Schools, and over 5,000 residents in the community of Alva. The members of our rural community want access to the same type of amenities of many other urban and metro areas. The facility would impact a whole community, but it would directly impact our youth and aging population. Northwestern Oklahoma State University's Wellness Center was greatly impacted during the pandemic. It was closed for some time and then limited to how many could be within the facility at one time. This outdoor facility would be beneficial to meet our health needs of our community.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Our outcomes for this requested project is to expand outdoor exercise and recreation opportunities not only for Northwestern Oklahoma State University students, but our community as a whole. Opportunities to track the use of this renovated outdoor facility through tournaments in basketball, tennis, pickleball, and volleyball would be included. The over-all health of our community could be impacted greatly by just having this facility. Also, being in rural Oklahoma, this type of facility adds quality of life for our students at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and the community of Alva.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding