Hindman-Hobbs gets new track, courts
By Bret Hayworth, Journal staff writer

A Morningside College student in workout gear entered Hindman-Hobbs Center Wednesday, walked in on the middle floor, then stuck his head over the railing to scan the courts below.

As the odor of new flooring and paint hung heavily in the air, he was asked if the project was done.

"I think so," he said with a smile.

And it is -- another facility dealing with athletics at Morningside College refurbished, as the Hindman-Hobbs Center fully reopens today.

In 2005, a major renovation to the football field and track took place, and when the $2.6 million project was finished, with it came a name change from Roberts Stadium to Elwood Olsen Stadium.

The Hindman-Hobbs Center opened in 1989, but the indoor upper-level track and the bottom-level courts have weathered with age. About a year ago college officials determined it was time for a makeover.


So in a $250,000 project, the gym courts and track got new Pulastic sports performance flooring, all in school colors of maroon and gray, Morningside spokeswoman Cathee Phillips said.

After 17 years of use, "it was simply a matter of age and wear and tear" on the courts and track, Phillips said.

Anderson-Ladd Inc. of Minneapolis, a firm specializing in refurbishment of athletic floors, began the project on May 15., and employee Bob Dudzik handled the final touches Wednesday. The pool and other workout equipment were available during the two months, but today the whole center reopens to the public.

 



 

Contractor Bob Dudzik checks the fit for a guard plate that will protect the edge of the newly renovated basketball court Wednesday at Morningside College's Hindman Hobbs HPER Center.
(photo by Jerry Mennenga)

Phillips said "our students use the (Hindman-Hobbs) facilities quite heavily," not only for intermurals, but the college baseball, softball, wrestling, track, soccer and swimming teams all use it, too. Also, the broader community uses Hindman-Hobbs, such as the numerous Siouxland Youth Association tournaments held there, plus nonstudents may sign up for a Lifetime Sports Class, pay a fee and use the facilities for a semester.

And Morningside just this year began stressing health and wellness for its employees, so improving the workout building "just reinforces for our employees the benefits of staying fit, that we are willing to reinvest in this facility," Phillips said.

Anderson-Ladd has handled facilities for the University of Minnesota and many other colleges. Dudzik reported "everything went very well. It is a beautiful looking floor, it really is."

Morningside softball coach Jessica Jones-Sitzmann said users accepted being a bit inconvenienced by the improvements at the building. The final product, Jones-Sitzmann said, "is amazing. A lot of improvements needed to be done, and it has upgraded the building."
 

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