Planned expansion of Kansas University’s Student Recreation Fitness Center has renewed concerns about the center’s impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

“We figure it’s going to be more cars coming and more people late at night,” said Kim Kreicker, president of University Place Neighborhood Assn.

KU officials announced Thursday they would organize a committee from the community early next year, in hopes of alleviating worry about the expansion’s effects. Those living near the center raised concerns about lighting, traffic and noise from air conditioners before the building was constructed near 17th Street and Watkins Center Drive. It opened last fall.

“In many ways, it hasn’t been as bad as we thought it might have been,” Kreicker said. “But it’s still on everybody’s minds.”

A similar neighborhood committee was appointed to add input to the design of Rieger Scholarship Hall, which is being built in the 1300 block of Ohio Street. The committee is included in a land-use agreement negotiated by city and university representatives and has been submitted to the City Commission for its consideration.

“A neighborhood advisory committee worked very well in helping design a new scholarship hall compatible with the Ohio Street area,” David Shulenburger, provost and executive vice chancellor, said in a prepared statement. “We want to follow the same procedures with this building addition in order to take into account neighborhood ideas and sensibilities.”

The committee would have two members appointed by the University Place Neighborhood Assn., one by the Lawrence city manager and one by the chair of the city’s Recreation Advisory Board, KU officials said.

Kreicker said those living near the recreation center continued to be concerned, especially about traffic in the neighborhood. One exit to the center’s parking lot, she said, lines up with an alley. Some drivers are maneuvering the alley to avoid a traffic diverter installed on 19th Street.

Kreicker said moving the exit could alleviate the problem.

Sam Sellers, Kansas University senior from Hutchinson, makes a fast break with the basketball during a pick-up game at the Student Recreation Fitness Center at KU. The center is slated to be expanded, which concerns some residents near the center at 17th Street and Watkins Center Drive because of a potential increase in noise and traffic.

Lynn Bretz, a university spokeswoman, said the exit suggestion was exactly the type of discussion the university hoped would occur during the committee meetings.

“That’s certainly a legitimate issue to bring on the table and discuss,” she said.

The committee would be appointed in March. If approved formally by the state, construction is scheduled to begin in June 2006 and be completed by July 2007.

Plans call for a $6.1 million, 50,000-square-foot addition to the building, which would double the number of basketball courts to eight, double the size of the free-weight area, expand the indoor running track to a quarter mile and add three racquetball courts to the current two. The construction, which is funded through KU Athletics Corp. money from purchasing student basketball tickets, would be to the north side of the building.

6News video: KU wants to expand Rec Center (12-09-04) KU’s Student Recreation Center planning to expand (11-16-04) Rec center serves as hub for students (5-28-04) KU student leader’s to-do list is building (5-10-04) KU opens unfinished student fitness center (9-30-03) 6News video: New KU rec center unfinished, but open Recreation center braces for onrush of students (8-16-03) 6News: New recreation center ready to open (8-9-03)