The interesting fact is that all the the facilities have been recently constructed or renovated. In 2000, the University completed a $6 million renovation of its entire outdoor complex also.
Photographs:
1. Fort Natatorium is an eight-lane, 25 yeard by six-lane, 25-meter swimming pool that is equipped with one meter and three meter diving boards and seating for 300 spectators.
2. The Shirk Activity Center contains a six-lane, 200-meter indoor track plus full indoor track and field facilities. It also has two baseball/softball batting cages, four multi-purpose courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, and badminton. In addition, it has a putting surface for golf. There are facilities for baseball/softball indoor practice and indoor soccer.
In addition to these two pictured facilities, we also noticed:
a. Beadles-Morse Tennis Courts. There are seven outdoor tennis courts, and four of these courts are lighted.
b. Jack Horenberger Field [1999] has a stadium-style seating for up to 500. This lighted fild features a traditional brick backstop, a press box, & manicured grass infield.
c. Neis Soccer Field [1999] This is for men's and women's soccer teams. It is a lighted facility with bleacher seating for 300 spectators.
d. Wilder Field "is the fifth oldest college football field in the country. First used in 1893, and the Illinois Wesleyan Stadium was built in 1939. Re-installation of lights and major renovation was done in 2000. The stadium seats 3,500 for track and field and football.
e. Wilder Track: because of major renovations and completed in 2001, this track features an eight-lane 400-meter, NCAA?IAAF santioned track and new field facilities.
f. The Softball Field was opened in 2000 and features stadium lighting, press box, dugouts, and seating for 200.
g. Shirk Center Arena has a wood-floored court for basketball, volleyball, and other physical education activities. It seats 2,500 for the athletic events. Concerts and special events also take place here.
h. Shirk Fitness Center in the Shirk Center includes three racquetball courts as well as a weight/exercise room with cardiovascular machines, free weights, and Nautilus equipment.
I have to tell you that all of this was quite impressive.
