 "Photo: Misael Virgen")
Southwestern College’s iconic racquetball courts on the northwest corner of campus will be getting a makeover.
Official racquetball court specifications dictate the court’s walls, floor, ceiling and upper back wall constitute legal playing surfaces. The beamed ceiling and chain link back wall make it difficult to perform ceiling lobs and back wall shots. Accumulated rainwater, and countless wads of chewing gum amassed throughout the years have left the racquetball courts a little less than desirable.
Surprisingly, this does not limit the building’s uses. Inaptly named, four of the eight “racquetball courts” that occupy the 1020 building have been currently functioning as weight lifting, dance and health classrooms as well as providing recreational, albeit non-regulation, racquetball to the public.
According to the Prop R Educational and Facilities Master Plan (EFMP), the structure was never intended for its current multi-functionality and lacks necessities such as electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
The plan is to demolish the current structure and erect a more accommodating one-story facility to house new Health Exercise and Athletic (HESA) facilities geared toward cycling, kickboxing and yoga.
Under Phase III of the Prop R EFMP, an estimated $15.5 million will be dedicated to the proposed plans for architectural fees and other related construction expenses. Demolition and construction will begin January 2012.
Terry Davis, dean of the School of Health, Exercise Science and Athletics, recalled the golden age of SWC’s racquetball courts.
“In the ‘70s, there were more racquetball classes than any other,” he said. “There were full pages listing the racquetball sections we offered. It was a vibrant sport.”
Unfortunately, the courts were never locked and soon began to attract not only athletes but graffiti artists, drug users and the homeless.
Isreal Santos, 20, engineering major, said he frequents the court with his friends two or three times a week.
“One time a strange woman came out of one of the courts and asked me if her eyes were red,” he said. “Also, sometimes there’s pee in the corner. It’s definitely no 24-Hour Fitness.”
Davis caught wind of the deterioration of the racquetball courts and made the choice to turn half of the courts into classrooms four years ago.
“I began to notice there were more people using the courts on the weekend than during the classes we offer,” he said. “We use our facilities for our students. I received no complaints from the general public for the decision.”
Doug Allen, 19, criminal justice major and SWC football quarterback, has no qualms with the racquetball court turned weight room.
“The football team uses the free-weight room two times a week. I use it four,” he said. “I don’t mind not having AC. Sometimes there’s a nice breeze blowing through the chain link.”
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