Promoting Lifelong Wellness at East Tennessee State University

Mission

Campus Recreation at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) provides student-centered, inclusive, and diverse recreational programs, facilities and resources open to the ETSU community to promote a lifelong pursuit of wellness.

Facility Descriptions

The Wayne G. Basler Center for Physical Activity — known to students as the CPA — serves as the hub of recreation, fitness and community at ETSU. Spanning 120,000 square feet, the facility first opened in 2002 and has continued to evolve alongside the needs of the campus community.

A major expansion in 2013 added additional court space and dedicated group fitness studios, and expanded weight and cardio areas. In 2022, the CPA underwent a significant renovation of its weight room and cardio floor, including the addition of an indoor turf space designed for functional training.

Today, the CPA offers a wide range of amenities to support every fitness level and interest. These include a 19,000-square-foot weight and cardio area, a 1/8-mile indoor track, two dedicated group fitness studios, and the Fitness Suite.

The facility also features four basketball and volleyball courts, two racquetball and squash courts, an indoor climbing and bouldering wall, and an eight-lane indoor pool. Additional spaces such as a multi-purpose room, a conference room, the Community Corner and locker rooms further enhance the facility.

Beyond the CPA, Campus Recreation extends its impact through a variety of outdoor spaces. These include the Basler Team Challenge Course with climbing, rappelling and bouldering elements, two intramural sports club fields at the CPA, and the Knoxville Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Employees Credit Union Sports Complex, featuring both turf and grass fields. The community can also enjoy the University Woods Trail System, a nine-hole disc golf course and six outdoor tennis courts.

Looking ahead, Campus Recreation continues to grow. In August 2026, two outdoor pickleball courts opened in the CPA Courtyard, expanding opportunities for one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. In partnership with the National Fitness Campaign, a new outdoor fitness court opened in September to increase access to free, functional opportunities.

Programming Highlights

Group Fitness serves over 3,500 unique participants through more than 35 classes each week. A signature event is Welcome Week Sunset Yoga, where more than 200 participants take part in a yoga class at William B. Greene Football Stadium.

In April 2026, Campus Recreation entered a 10-year, $500,000 sponsorship agreement with the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union for the naming rights of the intramural and sport club complex. This partnership supports a thriving intramural and sport club program. Each year, over 3,600 students participate in a comprehensive calendar of intramural events. These include traditional sports such as flag football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and slow-pitch softball, as well as unique events like battleship, innertube water polo and Big Pink volleyball.

Sport Clubs at ETSU is the fastest-growing program on campus. It’s grown from nine organizations in 2022 to 22 in 2026, with more than 400 students involved. ETSU offers students the opportunity to compete in unique clubs like bass fishing and cricket, while also participating in traditional clubs such as basketball, volleyball and baseball. The Olympic weightlifting team is one of the most decorated clubs, with participants competing nationally and internationally to represent ETSU.

Located in the heart of the Appalachian Highlands, ETSU offers unparalleled access to outdoor recreation. Nearby destinations include Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Roan Mountain State Park and Cherokee National Forest. Outdoor Adventure offers trips, an indoor climbing wall, Buc Bikes, outdoor gear rentals and stewardship of the university trail system. Each offering creates opportunities for students of all experience levels to explore, connect and grow outdoors.

Fun Facts

On April 17, 2027, the CPA will celebrate its 25th anniversary. What began as an outdoor adventure and intramural program has grown into a comprehensive collegiate recreation department.
Campus Recreation is the largest student employer on ETSU’s campus, with more than 150 student employees.
ETSU Campus Recreation has one of the largest graduate assistant programs in collegiate recreation in the state of Tennessee.
For 15 years, Campus Recreation has partnered with Housing to host Block Party, the official kickoff to Welcome Week held the Sunday before fall classes begin. With over 2,000 attendees, it’s the largest Welcome Week event and a longstanding ETSU tradition.
The CPA recorded more than 220,000 entries during the 2025-2026 academic year, marking a record high for the department.