Attempts to address space shortages with a new master plan from University of Wisconsin Recreational Sports may fall flat following student feedback, as recent changes downsizing the Natatorium could possibly prevent the university from meeting fitness standards.

Following multiple presentation on their master plan for the Natatorium and Southeast Recreational Facility on campus, Rec Sports received almost 3,000 student responses on a survey regarding UW facilities over the past several weeks, prompting a decision to downsize plans for the Nat, John Horn, director of Rec Sports, said in an email to The Badger Herald.

Rec Sports has not seen new plans from the architect but it is possible Rec Sports will not meet fitness standards due to the downsize, although it will be close, Horn said.

UW has more than 100,000 people eligible to use the facilities and 12,000 square feet of fitness space in total. General fitness standards dictate that 1.5 square feet should be allotted per person, which means UW falls 85,000 square feet short of that benchmark.

Much of the concern from students focused on the location of the Natatorium, as a majority of students use the SERF, Ian Malmstadt, co-founder of Badgers for Recreational Reform, said. Students were hesitant to focus a large amount of money in the master plan on the Natatorium and some also felt it was not an efficient use of money, he said.

The Natatorium was the largest of all components in the master plan because there is more space for expansion on the site, Horn said.

Although cost has been an important consideration in the development of the plan, Horn said the usability of the space and how people use it is also a factor.

It is too early to estimate the cost of the Natatorium because the decision to scale back the plan was just made, Horn said. Rec Sports is looking to get state funding for a portion of the Natatorium, he said.

Other facilities such as the SERF will not expand and the master plan is close to finalization, Horn said.

Rec Sports has not heard any other major concerns regarding the master plan from students, he said.

BRR will continue to meet with student groups around campus to gather feedback on the updated plan and to make sure students are on board with the plan to downsize the Natatorium, Malmstadt said.

The master plan will go to a campus-wide referendum in April 2014.