The Challenge Course and Alpine Tower program at Lake Wauburg’s South Shore is reaching new heights.
Students can expect an added zip line, power pole and higher levels to the pre-existing low elements challenge course.
The installation process to add the high elements challenge is scheduled to begin next week, and the completed course will be open to students in January.
The new course will give students obstacles on each of the three levels. Two zip lines and two power poles will be added. The gravity zip lines will run about 225 feet and the power pole will be 40 feet high. The power pole, or leap of faith, is where students climb to the top of a pole, leap out and try to grab a trapeze or ring a bell.
“I love feeling that adrenaline rush, and there’s not much in Gainesville that can really give you that feeling, so jumping off a tower or doing the zip line could be really fun with a group of friends,” said Jileen Bray, a 21-year-old UF public relations junior.
Site preparation for construction has already begun, and soon, Challenge Design Innovations will start the installation process. The company has been working on prefabricating pieces before arriving at Lake Wauburg.
Coordinator of Outdoor Parks and Recreation Michelle Alexander said David Bowles, the director of the Department of Recreational Sports, is very progressive. Bowles looks at the trends in the industry and tries to figure out ways to enhance the program.
“When Student Government had some money available, this was one of those things they decided to fund,” Alexander said.
The course will be free to UF student organizations by appointment on the weekends. Paid reservations for weekday appointments will be open to non-UF organizations and private companies.
“I think it’s going to be a super opportunity and a lot of fun,” Alexander said. “If you have not done a ropes course, you need to come out and visit us.”
A version of this story ran on page 5 on 10/29/2013 under the headline "Lake Wauberg to add zip line, power pole to ropes course"
