While none of the students, administration members or anyone on the planning committee knows if a new recreation center will be built or if Johnson Gym will be renovated, Recreational Services says it’s clear Johnson is aging and over capacity.
The 7,800 seat facility, built in 1957 as UNM’s main gym, now accommodates the physical education and exercise science departments, as well as portions of Lobo Athletics and recreational services.
Associate director of Recreational Services James Todd said the facility is struggling to support services for students in a facility that is overcrowded and in need of maintenance and expansion.
“Johnson Center hosts more that 2 million visitors per year,” he said. “With the volume of people in and out of the Center, facilities and amenities can take on a ‘used and tired’ look very quickly.”
Student Jacob Field said the facilities in Johnson are old and cramped.
“I think it needs updating,” he said. “There’s no space and feels really crowded. We try to play basketball, but there are usually classes in there.”
Johnson Center receives about $1 million in reimbursement for services from the University each year, about $650,000 from students ($33 per full time student equivalent) and about $400,000 from faculty and staff, but Todd said it costs nearly $1.6 million to operate the facility.
“We have to raise half a million dollars to make up operating costs,” he said.
Recreation Services raises money by renting the facility through non-UNM groups, and selling recreation cards to alumni and spouses as well as hosting fitness and recreation programs.
The Center was forced to close its doors on weekends last spring and this summer after the State of New Mexico pulled a portion of its Institutional and General funding.
“We now have to pay $270,000 in additional costs,” he said. “We realized we would have to start saving money, and we can’t cut programs that make money. So last year we had to cut hours.”
The New Mexico Department of Higher Education performed a facility audit last year and determined that Johnson has to pay for 27 percent of its bills.
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The state funds buildings, of which academics is the primary purpose and Johnson Center was 100 percent funded as an educational facility. But the state determined that because Johnson houses Athletics and Recreation services, that 27 percent of its expenses should not be funded with I&G.
“I have absolutely no money for repairs,” Todd said.
The department can place work orders with Physical Plant for repairs deemed necessary for instruction and functioning, but has no money to update or improve non-essentials.
“I can get things fixed, but I can’t get things replaced that aren’t absolutely necessary,” he said. “We would like low-flow toilets to save on bills. … I could tell you it would be great to have new locker rooms, new equipment, modern restrooms, more multi-use space for students, faculty and staff, etc. But we have to be realistic, do the best with what we have and move forward.”
Todd said Physical Plant has been maintaining Johnson to the best of its ability, but can’t keep up due to budget constraints.
“I am in no way saying anything bad about Physical Plant,” he said. “They do miracles with what they are given. It’s just tough economic times. One guy can’t fill 100 work orders.”
Old urinals in the men’s second floor bathroom flush over a gallon of water each time they are flushed and are falling apart, but Todd said he can’t save money on utilities because there is no money for investment in the future.
“Heating and cooling are two issues that need attention,” he said.
“The Physical Plant does an amazing job keeping the Center’s HVAC operating but I am sure there are more efficient systems that could be installed if there were funds available.”
A representative from the Physical Plant was unavailable for comment.
Todd said the department is working hard to stay open.
“Access to the facilities by students, faculty and staff, in my opinion, is (the biggest) issue.”
Johnson reopened on the weekends for limited hours this semester, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. but closes an hour earlier on weekdays this fall at 10 p.m. rather than 11 p.m. The process to have repairs to Johnson Pool are underway so it can hopefully reopen at the end of this semester, he said.
Preliminary estimates put the repair at around $80,000, Todd said.
