Oct. 1, 2018
CWU Kicks Off Wildcat Commons Project
SEATTLE, Washington — Central Washington University today announced plans for expansion of campus recreation facilities and upgrades to Tomlinson Stadium, both part of the first phase of its Wildcat Commons project.
The initiative will include a new track and field facility that will have a lighted artificial turf infield for general recreation, intramural and club sports. Tomlinson Stadium will see its first major renovation since being constructed in 1959.
The campus recreation expansion will feature an artificial turf infield, LED lighting for evening events, 1,000-seat grandstand, 400-meter NCAA-regulation all-weather track, new throw venues, stadium-style scoreboard, a new audio system, and new restroom facilities.
The Tomlinson Stadium upgrades will include the installation of artificial turf, LED stadium lighting, new entry gates, renovated restrooms, new visitor seating, and a new box office/ticketing area creating a flexible, regulation-size field that can accommodate football, rugby, and soccer year-round and in the day or evening.
Other amenities include the construction of a new Wildcat Plaza and Alumni Plaza, which will provide areas for donors and alumni to gather together while they enjoy their favorite CWU athletic events.
The total cost of the project will be $10.4 million and will address the university’s growing recreational needs due to its increased enrollment while making CWU more competitive in a number of its intercollegiate sports including football, rugby, soccer, and track and field.
To date, $9 million in total funding for the Wildcat Commons project has been committed–with campus recreation and private donor funds making up the majority of the investment. The university has a goal of raising an additional $1.4 million from individual and corporate donors so that the entire project is funded by the time ground breaking occurs in June.
The first $250,000 that is raised toward this $1.4 million goal will be matched dollar-for-dollar through the generosity of two of the university’s Wildcat Club and CWU Foundation board members. Gifts can be made by visiting cwu.edu/Wildcat-commons.
“We are excited about completing phase one of the Wildcat Commons project and for the positive impact it will create in the lives of our students, alumni and community members,” said CWU President James L. Gaudino. “We appreciate the tremendous support we have received from our campus recreation, athletic, and CWU Foundation leadership and invite all members of the Wildcat Family–particularly our generous alumni and donors–to come back to campus this fall to help us celebrate the opening of these two amazing facilities.”
Media contacts
Tomlinson Renovation: Sammy Henderson, Director of Athletic Communications, CWU Athletics Department, 509-963-1485, Samuel.Henderson@cwu.edu.
Campus Recreation Expansion: Jenna Hyatt, Associate Dean of Student Living, 509-963-2735, Jenna.Hyatt@cwu.edu.
General Project Information: www.cwu.edu/north-campus/