Last week, the Facilities and Services department of Campus Recreation announced the construction of a new recreational turf complex.

Announced on Feb. 10, construction will begin in June, after the end of the spring intramural season. Located at the entrance to the University along Bartle Drive, the 130,000-square foot turf field will replace part of the grass East Gym field and will be open for the fall 2015 semester, according to Campus Recreation.

In the past, intramural sports have struggled to stay consistent, especially in the springtime when poor weather conditions cause rain damage to the fields and mud, ruining the grass. The turf will limit the playing inconsistencies, as it creates safer conditions since drainage will be easier and mud will not pose a hazard.

According to Cindy Cowden, the senior associate director of Campus Recreation, the new facility will cost approximately $2.5 million. Funding for the turf field will come from the BU Foundation.

Maintenance costs for the University will decrease, as it is less costly to take care of a turf field than a grass field, according to a press release from the University. The new complex will have electrical lighting, which will allow for increased playing time and the expansion of the intramural sports program. With the change, Campus Recreation plans to increase the amount of teams within existing programs, and will explore the possibility of adding more sports as well.

Cowden said that the new playing field will provide more opportunities for students to get involved in intramural sports.

“The turf complex will be focused on increasing the offerings for the more than 6,000 students who take part in intramural programming,” Cowden said. “Our intramural soccer, softball and flag football leagues continue to be popular year after year and will see the most benefit from this complex.”

Legan Bayombo, a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering, said that he thinks the new turf field is a step in the right direction for the University.

“Binghamton University is a top research school, at times it can feel as if the school is one dimensional,” Bayombo said. “By implementing things that encourage extracurricular activities, Binghamton shows that it is a dynamic school invested in more than just academia.”

Cowden said that it is important for students to be active, and that the new turf field provides opportunities for that.

“Our campus recreation programs are geared towards encouraging students to find ways to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle,” Cowden said. “With longer seasons and more time available to play, we can explore the options for growth of programs that continue to fill up year after year, or new sports that we have not previously had the field resources to support.”

Jesse Wong, a sophomore majoring in industrial systems engineering said that it will be good to have space that is reserved for intramural sports.

“It gives more students the opportunity to experience Binghamton recreational life instead of only the sports teams having the opportunity on these fields,” Wong said.

According to Jay Francis, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and an intramural sport supervisor for Campus Recreation, the new field will be a great asset for the University and student body.

“It’s very important for the University to do things like this because it shows that it cares about the well-being of the students,” Francis said. “Students are not only offered the opportunity to do what they want, but they can use some of the best facilities in the area while doing it.”