Northwest students play soccer with Horace Mann students at the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse. The facility will open to community members for walking and other activities during December and January. (Photos by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Dec. 10, 2019

Northwest announces winter break hours for Hughes Fieldhouse

By Leah Newell, communication assistant

Northwest Missouri State University has announced winter break hours for community members at the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse.

The facility will open to community members between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 26-28, Dec. 30-31 and Jan. 2-3. Access to the facility at these times is free and available to individuals of all ages; children under the age of 13 must be supervised by an adult at all times. Visitors should park in lots 62 and 63 south of the Hughes Fieldhouse and enter through the east entrance.

In addition, the facility will open for walking only between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 16-20 and Monday, Dec. 23, as well as Jan. 6-10. Community members entering during walking hours must have a valid Maryville Parks and Recreation pass to enter in the facility; cards must be swiped at the desk.

All who enter the Hughes Fieldhouse must have a waiver signed and turned into desk staff.

“Last year was a great success, we were happy to provide a place for local families, seniors and youth to stay active during the holiday season – whether it was walking around the track, playing a pickup game on the turf or just tossing a ball around. We are looking forward to another great turnout,” Greg Hansen, Northwest’s assistant vice president of student affairs for campus recreation, said. “Part of our vision for the Hughes Fieldhouse is to promote health, wellness and engaged programming for the broader community, and this opportunity aligns with that goal.”

Opened in the fall of 2018, the Hughes Fieldhouse represents the single largest public-private partnership in the University’s history as well as one of the largest such projects in the region ever. The $21 million, 137,250 square-foot facility, which includes a 90-yard turf field for a variety of activities and a 300-meter track, is designed to serve a multitude of social, recreational and economic needs for the University and the region.

For more information about using the facility, contact Northwest’s campus recreation office at 660.562.1606. For more information about the Hughes Fieldhouse, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/recreation/HughesFieldhouse/.