With the opening of the Kerr-Pegula Field House (KPFH) this past fall, the future of the Nielsen Physical Education Center (NPEC) is in question. Athletic Director, Harold “Skip” Lord, said the KPFH is an “enhancement” rather than a replacement for the NPEC. Although the Nielsen was a replacement for the old Bedford gym, which sat between the Campus Center and Gillette until the late 1970s, the intention for how each of the two current athletic facilities will be used is much different. Lord stated that the KPFH is an “enhancement,” not a replacement.
The NPEC still sees quite a bit of use, though it is not as crowded as it has been in previous years. The building still houses the training and sports medicine staff, physical education classes, as well as men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball. Varsity spring sports teams also may use the NPEC due to weather conditions, though this would occur only if the KPFH was unavailable.
Lord also observed that before the KPFH was open, crowding from spring and winter sports practices often squeezed out non-varsity athlete students looking to use the NPEC. This was due to the fact that Houghton has added more athletic teams since becoming an NCAA Division lll institution. The existence of the KPFH serves to allow for a spreading out of indoor winter sports and outdoor spring sports as well as track and field (which is both indoor and outdoor). This allows for more traditional practice times and more time for recreational and intramural use of both facilities. Lord emphasized the KPFH and the NPEC “are Houghton College facilities”and all students have priority, not just athletic teams.
Lord stated this semester offers a wider variety of intramurals, with the future possibility of indoor ultimate frisbee in the KPFH.
The new arrangement is beneficial to current student-athletes. Emily Cronin, a member of both the women’s basketball and softball teams, said, “As a basketball player it is nice having all of the spring and most of the fall sports down at the KPFH because we have better practice times, and the gym (Nielsen) is available more often.”
Melissa Bell, a member of the track and field team, agreed stating, “Practice times are more consistent.” Bell also believes the dual use of both facilities has had a positive effect on the health habits of students, “I think the addition of KPAC has encouraged more students to work out…because they (NPEC and KPFH) are less crowded.”
According to Lord, the NPEC fitness center and weight room will remain open for the remainder of the year, and the decision to keep them in operation will be evaluated based on how often they are used.
Plans for the NPEC, which are still on the drawing board, include creating a wellness center at the location. “Wellness involves the whole person,” stated Rob Pool, Vice President of Student Life. The whole person refers to one’s academics, spirituality, mental health, and fitness. “Each of those aspects are really just available … á la carte currently” Pool added. A wellness program would be an intentional integration of every aspect of wellness. Though nothing has been decided, Pool stated that Houghton is “seriously looking” for funding for such a program.
With all the emphasis on wellness and fitness, as well as two facilities in which to practice them, Lord spoke to the overall fitness level of the Houghton College community stating, “According to our wellness and fitness professors, we are below average [in physical fitness]”.
Lord hopes that the added space the KPFH adds to both facilities will encourage community fitness. “People need to find something they enjoy doing, so that they can stay fit,” he said. One thing he hopes will help is “easily being able to find an open racquetball court, use a treadmill, or have a basketball court to play 3-on-3 with friends.”