KSU acquires land for athletic park

The campus of Kennesaw State University is poised to grow by more than 25 percent with the acquisition of mostly undeveloped land for an athletic park on the eastern side of I-75.

KSU sits mainly to the west of the interstate. But rapid growth in enrollment, and limited availability of land, pushes the north Cobb university eastward.

Within the last year, the KSU Foundation has cobbled together 88 acres between I-75 and I-575 and below Chastain Road. At least seven soccer-sized athletic fields will be laid out along with a track and restrooms.

A jogging trail will encircle a

10-acre lake. Intramural and club teams, including lacrosse, rugby and flag football, will use the fields.

Wesley Wicker, executive director of the KSU Foundation, said a minimum 2,500-seat soccer stadium also will be built. It could be expanded to handle 7,500 spectators.

Wicker added that the site could accommodate another stadium — for football.

KSU is considering adding the big-dollar, high-profile sport.

The university hopes to unveil a master plan for the 88 acres later this month.

“Obviously, we need to expand our sports recreation offerings to the students,” said Wicker. “And we had a rare opportunity to buy contiguous, undeveloped acreage in Cobb County. It’s rather unusual.”

The nonprofit development foundation bought the various parcels for $22 million. Wicker said construction will run $9 million to $12 million and could be covered by the university, student fees and Cobb County.

KSU, the county and the AMB Group, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank’s business arm, discussed last year a public-private partnership to build the fields and a 20,000-seat stadium. Blank sought a Major League Soccer team and needed a home field for the 2011 season.

AMB said last week that Blank has postponed his bid for a team but may re-apply in the future. Cobb, though, remains interested in partnering with KSU so county residents can use one of Georgia’s largest soccer complexes.

“KSU doesn’t need those fields in the summer,” said Sam Olens, who chairs the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. “The county is in discussions with them to see whether or not we could be providing a payment for a percentage use of those fields.”

Olens said the county’s parks director is reviewing the financial and recreational feasibility of partnering with KSU. He expects a report to commissioners within two weeks.

KSU’s long jump across the interstate can’t come soon enough. Enrollment rose from 18,500 students in the fall of 2005 to 21,449 last fall.

The state’s third-largest university by enrollment, KSU already has expanded to three sites beyond the core campus: the Town Point office park across Chastain Road; administrative offices a block west of campus; and the KSU Center for Continuing Education on the other side of I-75.

A $45 million, 913-bed dormitory opened last summer, as did a 2,650-space parking deck. A $21 million dining hall is scheduled to open in the fall. And construction is under way on a $60 million health sciences building due to open in 2010. A small field near the campus entrance along Chastain Road serves as the university’s primary sports field. That plot could be used later for another classroom building, Wicker said.

“We have far outgrown the original plan for this university,” Wicker said. “This is not only a valuable move, in terms of land, but a very strategic move because it allows us to build more academic space on the main campus.”

The foundation most recently bought the Best Western motel, a 2.19-acre site near Chastain Road, for $5 million. It is being leased to a management company until KSU decides how to incorporate the property into the “athletic park.”

The state plans to build the so-called Big Shanty Connector from I-575 to Chastain Road via the southern edge of the proposed park and underneath I-75. It would serve as a less-congested entrance to the ball fields and stadium.