Lately, there has been talk that the Outdoor Program (OP) and the Admissions office at Colorado Mesa University will be relocating.
The OP will be moving into the former Little Mavs Learning Center located on North Avenue. According to Sharaya Cowan, the Director of Admissions, the Admissions office move is still being discussed and “nothing has been officially approved.”
Currently, there is not a set start or end date, but Coordinator of the Outdoor Program Ryan Dutch believes the project will likely be completed before the beginning of the next academic year.
Dutch is currently going over the layout and construction details with the architecture firm overseeing the project. As of right now the plans detail demolishing the east section of the former Little Mavs Center and converting it into a grassy section including pay-to-park spaces for rental customers.
The western and northern sections of the building will remain in-tact, with some renovations and changes to suit the needs of the OP. Dutch hopes to convert the bottom floor into a storage area for bikes and other equipment.
The northern section of the building would be used for boating equipment. Dutch currently envisions the southern part of the upper floor being the hangout and desk area while the other half of the floor would be used for storage.
Dutch says that the tree in the center of the premises would remain and the clock tower would be remodeled. The sloped top would be removed, and it would be modernized with lights shining upon it.
Dutch likes the current location of the OP because of its grassy areas and the trees where students can slack-line and use hammocks. He hopes that he can incorporate those aspects into their new location.
According to Dutch, the gated courtyard would remain along North Avenue, and the entrance would be along the eastern side of the premises where the pay-to-park spaces will be located.
Currently the OP has minimal storage and Dutch states that they roll up paddle boards and duckies which can greatly decrease the equipment’s lifespan because they are meant to be stored flat.
The new building is nearly three times larger than the current OP building, and Dutch hopes that the increased storage, which will allow for the purchase of more equipment and the more accessible location for community members, will lead to greatly increased revenues for the organization.
