The USF community will choose its favorite color route and climb the Recreation & Wellness Center (REC)’s long-awaited bouldering wall this spring.

Since construction began in fall 2022, the wall’s grand opening continued to be postponed due to funding and construction issues.

Aaron Nichols, the director of communication and engagement for USF’s administrative services, said the delays were due to “unforeseen” structural complications in attaching the bouldering wall to the building.

Nichols said the general contractor for the project, Foresight Construction Group, completed all work at the end of October. However, availability issues with the installation company, Everlast Climbing, delayed the opening until the spring, he said.

Related: New year, old resolutions: Progress stalls on bouldering wall in Rec after need for funds

After two years of construction delays, the 14-foot-tall bouldering wall is getting its last additions before welcoming students next semester, said Jason Gosch, interim associate director of Recreation and Wellness Programs.

Even though students are interested in trying out the new wall, Shreya Bhatt argued they “realistically” might not use it more than once.

The freshman mechanical engineering major said she would “love” to try the bouldering wall because she used to rock climb when she was younger. However, she is unsure if she would use it on a daily basis, she said. 

“I’ll try once, and if I like it, I might go back, but if not, at least I know it’s there,” Bhatt said. “It won’t affect me as much because I’m probably only going to use it once.”

The plan is for the bouldering wall to be fully operational by the New Year’s REC-olution event on Jan. 14, Gosch said.

Gosch is helping add the last touches to the wall area, such as padding, holds, ladders and informational signage, he said.

He said the bouldering wall will then be open access, meaning it will be available whenever the gym is open, with no appointments needed.

“It might be easy to think of it as another piece of equipment in the gym,” Gosch said. “It’s just a very new, very different piece of equipment.”

Bhatt said it will be “really fun” for students to have the addition at the gym because if they have time while training or between classes, they can just go climbing.

She said a lot of people will want to try the bouldering wall for fun — not necessarily for fitness.

“It’ll be really funny to just go with your friends,” Bhatt said. “I also think it’s safer that way because I don’t think any of my friends have ever done rock climbing.”

Some of the reasons why a bouldering wall was chosen instead of a rock climbing wall was to make the activity safer for students, Gosch said.

Bouldering walls don’t require harnesses or any additional gear, so all students need to do is wear closed-toe shoes, which is already a gym policy, Gosch said.

Related: Bouldering wall in Rec center faces another delay five years after its original announcement

People exploring the wall are encouraged to bring climbing shoes, which have sticky rubber soles. If they don’t have their own, the REC will also rent some for free, Gosch said.

​​Nichols said the final budget for the climbing project is $275,000, which is about $125,000 more than the original cost estimate and $64,000 more than the last prediction.

For now, Gosch said the REC doesn’t plan on having a dedicated staff member by the wall at all times. However, staff will be trained on questions that people might have about bouldering, he said.

Katerina Markova said even though she is not “into bouldering,” the addition gives students a wider range of options.

“I think it’s a cool idea because I feel like I haven’t seen anything new,” the freshman finance major said. “I haven’t really done anything fun on campus and I feel like the wall’s inauguration is, finally, something to look forward to.”

Related: Trevor Wallace talks election at USF’s annual comedy show

As a climber himself, Gosch said one of the best aspects of a climbing community is its social nature.

“It’s a great place to watch other people, cheer them on, get feedback and make new friends in a new context,” he said. “People should expect to make some new friends here.”