UTEP students looking for a place to get in shape, stay in shape, or have a good time on campus can turn to the UTEP Student Recreation Center or the Rec. Free for students who pay a fee on their tuition, the Rec is also open to the public with both monthly memberships along with day passes which are available for purchase.
Located at 3450 Sun Bowl Drive, the Rec has become a safe place for students to become more active in their busy lifestyles. The Rec Center experienced improvements from a fee increase approved by the UTEP student body in 2006. The renovations were completed in 2011 and included many improvements to a relatively new facility that was built in 1996.
Walking into the Rec, the first thing you notice is the rock wall and the open space. Getting into the Rec is as simple as scanning your UTEP identification card. If you forget your ID, the staff can take your ID number instead. Once inside, heading to the right will take you to the pools and fitness rooms, and going left will take you to the main area.
The entrance to the Rec puts students on the second floor of the building. Going downstairs, students can check out basketballs and volleyballs as well as other equipment for use. This first floor is where students can find the rock-climbing wall and basketball courts. Locker rooms are also available on this floor for students to lock up personal items for the day.
Returning to the second floor, students can find the free weights. This 6,500 square foot area contains essential high-quality equipment to cater to your workout needs. Dumbbells and plates of a variety of weights make this area a welcome space for beginners who want to get started on lifting or continue their physical health journey.
Going to the third floor, students will find more gym equipment. Weight machines, stationary bicycles, treadmills and steppers are all plentiful on this floor. The most important aspect of the third floor, however, is the indoor track that measures in at an eighth of a mile.
The pool is down a long corridor to the other side of the building. The Rec has two pools, a competitive pool and a recreational pool. The competitive pool has a 13-foot depth, good for diving. The recreational pool is much shallower, with a maximum depth of four feet. The recreational pool also features an area for basketball and volleyball. It is important to note for the Rec pool to bring your own towels because the Rec does not have any for students to rent.
Although the extensive facilities available in the Rec are important, they only portray one part of what the Rec has to offer. There are numerous classes to take throughout the semester, including dance, jujitsu, bachata and Zumba.
Not only is the Rec a great place to work out, but it can also open doors to different opportunities, as it did for student employee Aaron Castro. Castro was also inspired by P.E. teachers to take on both his major and his position at the Rec.
“Since I majored in kinesiology, I wanted a job that had sports involved in it,” Castro said. “It’s really what inspired me to be here, it’s a really fun and friendly environment where I can surround myself with what I want to become.”
For students who may be considering another gym to work out, what sets the Rec above the competition are the facilities and the trips.
“It’s honestly way more worth it than for me to go to an EP Fitness or an Elev8 Gym…because there’s a lot more than just working out, it’s a place for leisure time and just to chill out,” Castro said.
Although the trips do require a separate fee from what is included in tuition, it is still worth more than going somewhere else. The facilities speak for themselves, and the Rec continues to play an important role in the physical health of the UTEP community.
For more information visit www.utep.edu/student-affairs/rsd/.
Nicholas Maes may be reached at [email protected]