Plans for a new recreation center for Missouri Southern are currently up in the air.

It has been in consideration for three years and is making progress.

Using Baylor University in Waco, Texas, as a model, the new two-story building will be considered more of a health and wellness center.

Plans include relocating the nurse’s health center to the new building and letting the nurse’s program take over Kuhn Hall.

Other plans for the center include three gymnasiums, a 50-foot climbing wall, a 10,000-square-foot weight room/fitness center area, meeting rooms for student organizations, a 100-seat movie theater/lecture hall, indoor running track, four racquetball courts, fitness/wellness testing laboratory, two dance/martial arts studios and an outdoor recreational area where students will be able to check out sporting equipment such as kayaks, canoes, sleeping bags, croquet sets, picnic packs, etc.

They are also proposing an indoor pool with a slide and lazy river.

The aim is to make it more of a fun pool instead of a competition pool like the current one on campus.

“We’re proposing a more user friendly swimming pool,” said Darren Fullerton, director of campus recreation and wellness.

“One with a zero depth entry so our non-traditional students with families or people with disabilities are able to use it.”

A past survey, conducted by Student Senate along with the psychology department, asked random students if they would be willing to pay for the center.

State money cannot be used for this type of facility because it goes against state laws.

“Our goal is to secure close to $1 million in private donations,” Fullerton said.

An anonymous source donated $300,000 specifically for this project.

Right now, the plans in mind will cost $10 million.

One major advantage the center will bring is more job opportunities for students on campus.

The recreation department already is the largest student employer on campus.

There have been several sites as options for the new building, but will most likely be erected at the corner of Newman Road and Duquense Road near College Heights Christian Church.

“The biggest problem right now with our current facilities available to students is accessibility,” Fullerton said.

“Many facilities we have are not designed for students, mainly for athletic purposes. What we’re trying to educate people on is that it’s not a duplication of services.”

“I think it’s a good idea, and I think that we definitely need it,” said Stacey Allen, junior elementary education major.

“The recreation department needs their own facilities.”