Bailie Allemand
ballema1@uwyo.edu
&
James Clark
jclark59@uwyo.edu
Students at the University of Wyoming and members of the Laramie community have access to state of the art amenities at Half Acre Gym and Campus Recreation Center.
“I find going to Half Acre to be very relaxing,” Ethan Garnhart, petroleum engineering student, said. “It’s a great way to relieve stress after a long day, and also helps me stay in good physical shape as well as mental.”
Half Acre recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation adding a slew of amenities. The facility consists of three floors to satisfy the physical wellness needs of the masses with access to an aquatics center, free weights, exercise machines, group fitness classes, a rock climbing wall, an indoor track, and multiple racquetball, volleyball, badminton and basketball courts.
Group fitness classes available include yoga, Zumba, indoor cycling and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
University of Wyoming freshman and speech pathology major Eryn MacDonell regularly attends the HIIT class.
“The workout consists of a lot of bodyweight exercises,” MacDonell said. “It’s very tiring, but it’s amazing what the workout does for the rest of day. I feel very energized.”
Half Acre Gym and Campus Rec is also home to the student wellness center where students can go to relieve stress and relax mentally. The wellness center regularly puts on workshops for ways to cope with the stressors of life.
According to the University of Wyoming website, Half Acre has been open at UW since 1925. The facility hosted UW’s athletics programs and activities from 1925 to 1955. Half Acre was also home to the universities dance department and housed the first Student Health center that have since moved to separate venues.
Half Acre is now home to the club sports office, where the club sports trips and games are planned out. The facility also hosts UW’s intramural sports program where students, faculty, staff, and spouses can join in a multitude of organized sports competitions.
Campus recreation also allows students to rent outdoor gear, such as paddle boards and kayaks, to take offsite and enjoy the state of Wyoming’s natural surroundings.
All full-time students and faculty members at the University of Wyoming have free access to Half Acre Gym and Campus Recreation center and all of its amenities.
