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Rain garden completed on Earth Day

By Amanda Thompson

Thursday, April 23, 2009

More than 200 student and community volunteers came to help put the finishing touches on the rain garden located on the north side of the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. A total of 2,500 plants were successfully planted in the garden Wednesday, which was Earth Day.

The 5,500 square-foot rain garden, which will be watered with rainwater that runs off the roof of the recreation center, was completed yesterday after nearly two years of planning. Seven students saw the project through from beginning to end, including students studying engineering, architecture and environmental studies.

Laura Foster, St. Louis senior in architecture, said because of the existing construction at the recreation center throughout the last two years, it was easier to add the rain garden into the construction plans.

England Porter, Independence senior in environmental studies, said the garden was supposed to be planted last Earth Day, but delays in the recreation center construction suspended the project by a year. Porter said from the beginning that Mary Chappell, director of the recreation center, was a big supporter of the garden.

“I think from day one on this site student initiative was number one,” Chappell said. “That’s why we’re here. It’s energizing to make things happen that’s going to make a better learning environment at the University.”

Porter said only plants native to Kansas were planted in the garden, such as prairie grasses.

“Native plants take a while to grown and thrive,” Porter said. “For the first two years or so it will need maintenance, but after that it should take care of itself.”

Chappell said students should realize that although the planting process may be done, the growing process has just begun.

“It’s not going to look perfect the fist day,” Chappell said. “It’s going to take a while for this stuff to grow. They’ll all have to come back another time when it’s all in full bloom.”

Funding for the project came from the recreation center, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Student Senate and a University of Kansas Coca-Cola grant. Group members estimated that labor, material, construction and planning costs totalled between $65,000 and $75,000.

Chappell said she was proud of the student initiated project because it was done well and with integrity.

“It’s that real hands-on experience, out of that walled classroom,” Chappell said. “It’s very successful and I hope everyone will see that.”

Callie Statz, Baldwin, Mo., junior in architectural engineering, said the different combinations of majors as well as helpful University officials came together to make sure the project was completed.

“It just shows that students and faculty can really work together to create a masterpiece,” Statz said.

— — Edited by Heather Melanson

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