A Boost for Sports
Approval of a $ 16.5-million plan to expand and modernize the College's athletic plant was one of the major actions taken by; the Dartmouth trustees at their annual winter meeting in Hanover. The programnot to be undertaken all at once but to be spread over several years as the funds are raised, calls for $12 million in new con struction and renovation and $4.5 million in endowment to support operation of the new facilities.
In announcing the trustee decision, President McLaughlin stated that a primary objective is to renovate and upgrade those parts of the existing athletic plant that were built in the early 1900's to accommodate an all-male student body half the size of the current undergraduate enrollment. Another general purpose is to provide facilities that will more adequately support Dartmouth's multi-dimensional athletic program: required physical education, intramurals, intercollegiate athletics, and general recreation.
Construction and renovation will closely follow the recommendations made to the trustees by an ad hoc study committee chaired by Jere Daniell '55, professor and chairman of the history department. An earlier study, made in 1976, also contributed to the plan adopted.
The major construction project is a new wing to Alumni Gymnasium, to be built on the west side, where tennis courts now exist between the gym and ToplifFHall. It will contain two regulation basketball courts and spectator stands, supporting locker facilities, and modern rowing tanks for winter crew practice.
Renovation of the old gymnasium, which began 73 years ago as the most celebrated college gym in the country, will provide two more basketball courts, seven more squash courts and four racquetball/ handball courts, an expanded fitness and weights facility, modernized men's locker facilities in both the gym and adjoining Davis Varsity House, and composition flooring in the upper level of the gym.
Other items in the overall plan are installation of snow-making equipment at the Dartmouth Skiway, construction of a rowing shell storage facility near the Connecticut River, construction of all-weather tennis courts near Thompson Arena and the Choate dorms, all-weather resurfacing of the six tennis courts at the east end of the gym, and installation of artificial turf on one outdoor playing-practice field.
