JMU considers $7 million deal for 32.6 acres

By Ashton Smith, staff writer
Posted on December 6, 2007

JMU has begun the process of acquiring 32.6 acres of land near the corner of Port Republic Road and Neff Avenue, for recreational and athletic purposes.

The city council met Nov. 27 to discuss the buying the land for $7 million, but no decision will be made until after a second hearing. 

“JMU has such an involved student body, with intramural and club sports,” Don Egle, the University Spokesman, said.  “There is the need to provide opportunities for the students.”

Planning for the new fields is still in the early stages, and there is no projected date for the completion of construction.

The General Assembly approved the expenditure of university funds during its March session and determined that the money to buy the land would come from the university’s reserves.

The university wants the added acreage because there are no current plans to renovate the old fields at Memorial Hall, Egle said. The stadium was inspected to see what would be necessary for renovations but was found to be in poor condition.

The stadium and the connecting track and field are currently used as practice fields, and the new acreage would be open to all JMU students and for NCAA-level competition.

The blueprints for the fields will be presented to the JMU Board of Visitors at their meeting in January.

As the expansion deal is not yet finalized it is up to the city council to continue plans. If the proposal passes, it will take some time before the process is complete.

Some JMU students disagree over whether the new addition would help or hinder the university.

“I always see the athletic fields packed with people,” junior Kristin Otte said.  “I think the students use athletics to relieve stress, so the fields would be a great addition to our school.”

Senior Paul Pflueger disagreed.

“I know the university is projecting more growth in the future so I don’t know why they wouldn’t use that land for more dorms and classrooms,” he said.  “They should focus on expanding the university itself.