Chancellor Walter Wendler promises intramural fields will not shrink because of Saluki Way, a massive construction project to overhaul the east side of campus during the next 10 years.

When Wendler announced the plan, Recreation Center officials worried intramural facilities would be forgotten. Initial mock-ups for Saluki Way show McAndrew Stadium being moved south onto fields used for softball, flag football and soccer.

The proposed replacement for the sports area looked smaller, Recreation Center officials said after the project was announced.

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Recreation Center Director Bill McMinn said Monday he had no input on the plan. However, the administration has worked with him after he voiced concern for the thousands of students who use the fields every year, McMinn said.

“We’re going to find a place that’s even better than the one we have now,” McMinn said. “I think we’re going to be fine.”

An intramural complex is one possibility being discussed, McMinn said. Wendler hesitated to give a guarantee but said it could be among the changes made.

Mentioning the idea already excites intramural athletes.

“That’d be awesome,” said Joe Byrne, a math education major from St. Louis. “Too bad I’m a senior, and I won’t be here to see it.”

Byrne played intramurals through his entire college career and says if he couldn’t let out steam through casual athletics, he’d have less will to do school work.

Keeping athletics open to students is very important to SIUC, said Wendler, adding, “We’re going to make sure the opportunities for students to participate in intramural athletics would be enhanced by Saluki Way.”

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When the more than $360 million construction project was announced at the September Board of Trustees meeting in Edwardsville, the chancellor said he wanted to start discussing improvements. Wendler said the athlete’s concerns are an example of what he wanted to hear.

More Saluki Way details will be available in the coming months. On Nov. 4, the University will launch a capital drive to pay for the project, and last month Provost John Dunn put together a committee to discuss the first academic building in the project.

Wendler said if all goes well, he will present a revised version of the plan for review, possibly as soon as the January board meeting.

“We’re working very hard to refine this concept,” he said. “It’s very important for us to get moving with this as soon as possible.”

Reporter Zack Quaintance can be reached at [email protected]