VALDOSTA — As 2006 marks the centennial anniversary of Valdosta State University’s inception, President Ronald Zaccari outlined a plan of campus developments that will bring the university into a new distinguished era.

Hundreds of administrators, professors and staff attended the annual Spring Convocation set aside to address trends and issues facing VSU in the coming year. Zaccari shared several construction projects in store for the university’s food service facilities, stadium developments, and illustrated plans for prospective traffic and parking improvements.

Because VSU is surrounded by the community of Valdosta, Zaccari stressed the need to accommodate the needs of citizens in the neighborhoods surrounding the campus and maintaining the city’s historic districts and icons during the construction process.

Valdosta City Council recently proposed exploring options to restrict student parking during certain hours of the day in the neighborhoods east of Patterson Street. Zaccari said that an Atlanta-based development firm has been contracted to assist in historic preservation, parking analysis, and parking garage design. He has asked the Council to delay any action until the group has completed a five- to six-month study of the area.

Zaccari said that VSU would not build additional surface parking lots because of limited land. “It’s no longer a question of should VSU construct a parking facility, but where and what components will be necessary to fund the project.”

He displayed a drawing of a standing multi-purpose parking facility that could house a new University Police station, parking and transportation auxiliary offices and retail and convenience stores.

Zaccari said that the administration has also outlined plans to maintain safe traffic along Patterson Street.

“Documented traffic accounts by the city, University, and Georgia Department of Transportation show there are approximately 3,000 pedestrians crossing (Patterson) on a daily basis,” he said.

To complete the processes, Brookwood Place and the front entrance of VSU will be aligned and two new traffic lights will be installed on Patterson Street.

Students and faculty will be able to enjoy a number of new dining experiences exclusive to the VSU campus. Zaccari introduced managers of the Sodexho corporation, private food contractors, who will invest $4.1 million into VSU ‘s facilities over the next five years.

Palms dining center will see the addition of a retail food court, including a Quizno’s Subs, Jazzman’s Coffee Shop and a Salsa Rico featuring Mexican dishes. Throughout the campus students will enjoy A Sub Connection, Sky Ranch Grill and an Einstein Brothers Bagels shop.

During the 2006 year, Zaccari has several plans of building development totaling over $85.4 million. One of the main projects is the expansion of the University Union to a 154,000 square-foot facility to accommodate VSU’s growing student body. On North Campus, a multi-level 600 private-bed complex with interior apartments will be connected to a new Health Sciences and Business Center.

“It will be the first living-learning facility the campus has seen.” The project is expected to begin in October.

A committee was appointed in 2005 to discuss the much anticipated stadium project, and the group has already made several recommendations. The committee is considering placing a stadium in the Reames Field area between the tennis courts and the P.E. Complex on Baytree. Funds for the project will come from a $20 student fee to be implemented this summer. In addition to the stadium, VSU is also looking to build a practice field house and soccer field on some of its Mary Street properties.

Zaccari is looking forward to a great year of developments as well as celebrations as the college welcomes its 100th anniversary. A centennial steering committee was established to develop themes for the centennial and incorporate those themes into existing academic, social, athletic, artistic and community activities.

Before concluding, Zaccari named three outstanding VSU alumni as honorary chairs of the committee: Alfred W. “Bill” Jones, III, recently named Georgia Trend Magazine’s “Georgian of the Year” in 2004; David M. Ratcliffe, current president, chairman and CEO of the Southern Company; and Martha Barrs (Jones) Robertson, 1953 grad, the first female vice president of Coca-Cola USA.