Arboretum and Landscape Committee
Annual Report: 1993-1994
During the past academic year the Committee has met approximately biweekly in order to
keep up with the large volume of business coming before it. The extensive building program on which
the University has embarked has made this year a time of challenge, frequent frustration, and
occasional success.
As the first order of business for the Committee one thinks immediately of new plantings. On
Founder's Day the Committee oversaw the planting of a Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) in honor
of Mrs. Frederic W. Scott in recognition of her longtime interest in and support of landscaping around
the Grounds. The Committee also approved the planting of two private memorial trees, a Sugar
Maple (Acer Saccharum) for Mrs. Martha Morford and a Silverbell (Halesia carolina) for Mr. Sterling
Vines.
The Committee was directly involved in the labor of replanting the woodlands that had been
devastated by the Southern Pine Beetle on the North Grounds. Largely through the efforts of Mr.
Jay Klingel the dead pines were removed and the Virginia Department of Forestry planted a grid of
White Pines (Pinus strobus). Not content with that solution, Mr. Klingel galvanized the APO service
fraternity, under the supervision of members of the Committee, to plant hardwoods of many species
in among the pines. The Committee also supplied funds amounting to $3,800 for the purchase of
special tubes to improve survival of the trees and to add some larger specimens to the edge along
Arlington Boulevard. The growth of these plantings over the summer has been phenomenal.
In one important respect the Committee has reversed a long-standing policy this year.
Heretofore the Committee has maintained that the replacement of trees that had to be removed from
the Grounds should be the responsibility of the Landscape Division of Facilities Management. There
having been no replacements for many years, the Committee has decided that some of its funds must
be devoted to the most critical locations. This year the Committee has appropriated $10,000 to this
end. This will inevitably reduce its capacity to respond to other landscaping opportunities, but the
need was inescapable.
The Committee has continued to use its funds to encourage joint projects with other
University and community groups. A particularly fruitful collaboration has been the Urban Forestry
program of the Small Business Administration. Through the efforts of Ms. Lynn Rush and Mr. Tom
Leback, together with matching funds from the Committee, the University has been very successful
in competing for these projects. Projects this year include plantings for the Rotunda walks, the
storage library, and Arlington Boulevard.
A major concern of the Committee continues to be the monitoring of efforts to provide access
for the handicapped to all University facilities. This process often requires careful attention if a
balance is to be realized between utility and amenity. Things can go badly wrong, as in the case of
the access to the courtyard at Thornton Hall. The Committee has also reviewed plans for:
Hospital Drive
McCleod Hall
Memorial Gymnasium
Miller Hall
Piedmont Housing
The Minor-Maury-Halsey complex
South Lawn at Pavilion IX
North Lawn
Highway Research Building
International House
Math-Astronomy Building
A long term project of the Committee is nearing fruition. The map of plantings on the
Grounds, which has gone through a number of revisions, is about to be incorporated into the base
map of buildings and utilities. We foresee that this map will provide an invaluable management tool
for keeping up with the condition of trees on the Grounds.
The Committee continues to review a wide variety of University projects. In the past year
these have included:
Landscaping plans for -
The Jefferson Park Avenue parking lot expansion.
The intramural ropes course.
A parking lot for Halsey Hall.
The fuel facility at Blue Ridge Hospital.
The parking lot at St. Thomas Church.
The parking garage and bookstore.
The Gamma Knife facility.
The entry to McKim Hall.
Bollards for Hospital Drive.
The parking area at Pavilion V.
The New Darden School.
The Law School renovations.
Cresap Lane.
Tree additions for University Gardens.
The Multistory Hospital parking lot.
Bryan Hall.
Box plantings for Hotel A.
Gilmer Gulch.
Crabapples for Leake Cottage.
Ground cover for Carruthers Hall and Hancock Dormitory.
New trees for Hereford College.
The new Observatory Hill dormitory.
The chiller plant for Bryan Hall.
Parking lot and entrance to Ruffner Hall.
Revision of the Master Plan.
Major tree removals -
The Dell: 2 Tuliptrees (Liriodendron tulipifera).
Monroe Hill: large Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea).
Emmet St. Bridge: large White Pine (Pinus strobus).
Pavilion V: Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus).
Sidewalk projects -
McCormick Road at Minor Hall.
Ruffner Hall.
Page House entry.
Randall Hall.
Student activities building.
Miscellaneous -
A storm sewer from Gilmer Hall to Stadium Road.
Fencing at Zehmer Hall.
Removal of a flagpole at Clark Hall.
New steps at Thornton Hall.
Recycling project for Hereford College, Bryan Hall, and Alderman Library.
Storage area on Old Ivy Road.
Bus turn-around at Carr's Hill.
Bus stop relocations.
Day lilies for Newcomb Road.
Rugby Road improvements.
Transformer sites at Sponsor's Hall and Massie Road.
Memorial benches for Chemistry.
Benches and picnic tables for Alderman Library.
The Committee made its usual tour of inspection to Blandy Farm and found things in good
order. The plantings along the new entrance drive are for the most part thriving. The new outdoor
theater is nearing completion, and outdoor lighting is being installed. Progress had been made in the
identification and labeling of the plants in the arboretum.
As usual, the Committee is continuing to hold meetings through the summer as necessary to
keep abreast of projects underway and looks forward to a new year with interest.
In closing it would be appropriate to mention the effectiveness of two members of the
Committee in particular. Special thanks are due to Mr. Jay Klingel for his skilful management of the
reforestation project on the North Ground, and to Mr. Tom Leback whose attention to detail and
conciliatory skill make the Committee's business a pleasure.
Respectfully submitted,
J. J. Murray, Chairman
|
