A community square and a recreational center – these are some of the things USF administration might keep in mind when planning the repurposing of The Claw.

Around six months after its closing, USF has been holding different sessions on repurposing what used to be The Claw, the 120-acre public section of USF’s golf course. The decision to close it last year on Sept. 5 came from financial loss and instability.

Related: The Claw at USF Golf Course to shut down this fall

Different needs assessment sessions have been held with general faculty and those in the areas of building and development, architecture and environmentally sensitive areas, according to Vice President of Facilities Carole Post.

The first virtual town hall-like meeting with students was held on March 22. Post said USF representatives shared the information they currently have on a repurposing of The Claw and got feedback from students.

The process of brainstorming ideas for projects will start after a solicitation – a notification to interested parties like vendors, suppliers, contractors, etc. – that will be issued this summer, Post said.

Students and faculty both frequently mentioned the lack of a community square-like place, where students can go to gather socially, Post said.

Post mentioned the fact that other “AAU-type universities” across the country have a main street or some sort of collective destination with bars and restaurants. Despite the variety of dining halls and common areas on campus, USF doesn’t have an area that fits that description, Post said. 

Related: USF joins the Association of American Universities

Post said spaces like the MSC are often overbooked, which makes it hard for students to find a place to gather with a routine nature. This brought up the need to convene space as well as provide students entertainment.

Post said the need for a passive space where students go strictly to relax and enjoy was also a recurring theme in the virtual sessions. Some of the ideas include walking and biking trails.

“And it doesn’t have to be right on campus, but it’s close enough that they can just easily get to it,” Post said.

USF students have access to Riverfront Park, a recreational outdoor area located on Fletcher Avenue. The park offers students trails, kayaking, a challenge course and other outdoor activities.

Student Body President Cesar Esmeraldi said an entertainment area close to campus would be a boost in USF students’ college experience, specifically those who don’t own a car.

“Now that we have such a great campus culture, you go to basketball games that are selling out and you see so many people walking around, I believe the focus should be to have a walkable campus,” he said.

While Post said the feedback helps identify gaps in what USF offers students, ideas for a new use of the space “can’t just be anything at all.”

The future project has to follow the State of Florida’s Public Private Partnerships (P3) requirements and make sense as a part of USF. It is also important that whatever takes the Claw’s place is in harmony with the forest preserve located east of the area.

“It’s a legislative dynamic, and because this is university land and state land, we are required to follow certain processes and in fact are constrained in certain ways as to what can be done there,” Post said. “And ultimately the uses all have to align with USF’s mission and its purpose.”

Post said the university is looking to make sure that there will be no bleeding of whatever new project is to come into the forest preserve neighboring it. 

The area will be rigorously preserved and accounted for, according to Post.

“The forest preserve is seen as an opportunity to enhance whatever ends up on this site by being an ecological and environmentally sensitive site that will allow us to introduce the benefits of nature essentially running right up next to a very urban environment,” she said.

The next meeting with students is being held Thursday. Post said there is still a lot of time to get student input and feedback so that the project ends up fulfilling the student body’s utility and entertainment needs.

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