By Michelle Jamrisko Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Assuming cold April weather doesn't kill the spring mood -- or the newly planted flowers -- a wealth of new landscaping projects may soon provide a fresh look on Grounds.
Facilities Management Superintendent of Landscape Rich Hopkins said the landscaping projects around Grounds are "endless" and the staff is currently focused on preparing the Lawn for commencement exercises.
"That explains the ropes and stakes on the Lawn," he said. "It's all been reseeded and prepped, and actually starting to come up. That's our biggie this time of year."
The only concern Hopkins mentioned is that the amount of rainfall has been sparse as of late. Facilities Management has an efficient drought plan in place, but Hopkins said it is difficult to carry out and therefore reserved for emergencies only.
Besides the Academical Village, several areas around Grounds have taken on a new look for the coming of spring, yielding both aesthetically-pleasing additions and temporary eyesores.
First-year College student Sandra Babilya said she is pleased with the new flowers on Alderman Road.
"I've noticed the plethora of daffodils around new dorms," she said. "They remind me of preschool when we used to make daffodils out of construction paper."
Hopkins explained that his staff of 45 full-time employees and several temporary employees has been busy replacing dead perennials and conducting "spring cleaning" -- clearing out leaves and sweeping the sidewalks.
Third-year College student Renee Brown said she finds it hard to appreciate new greenery around Grounds because of the abundance of red walls and the construction they conceal.
"I always think about how ugly those walls are," she said. "Everyone notices those."
Graduate Arts and Sciences student Justin Wright does not anticipate an end to construction or landscaping projects anytime soon.
"The University is always going to be building," he said. "There's always some place on Grounds being groomed."
Hopkins said the landscaping staff gets more positive than negative feedback on various projects but complaints are expected.
"There's always somebody that we're inconveniencing," he said.
Hopkins added that it's the final product that really counts.
"Bear with us," he said. "We make a mess to make it better, but in the end it's all for good"
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