Purdue to provide upgraded space for recreational sports, public gardens
November 3, 2015
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Upgraded spaces for Purdue University’s recreational sports including soccer, lacrosse, rugby, cricket and ultimate Frisbee will be located at the northeast corner of McCormick Road and Cherry Lane on the West Lafayette campus. (Image provided by Purdue Research Foundation) |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University students and community members will have upgraded spaces dedicated specifically to community gardens, the Purdue Student Farm and various recreational sports for student use, Purdue and Purdue Research Foundation officials announced Tuesday (Nov. 3).
The newly designed area, located at the northeast corner of McCormick Road and Cherry Lane and adjacent to the Northwest Athletic Complex, is slated to open in the fall of 2017. The space will be home to recreational sports that include soccer, lacrosse, rugby, cricket, ultimate Frisbee and others. The new area will be served by three public bus lines provided at no cost to Purdue students, staff and faculty, and will include storage and restroom facilities on site.
The south portions of the recreational fields also will be used for RV parking during the football season.
"The end result is a plan that provides high-quality space for recreational and community activities." said Michael B. Cline, Purdue vice president for physical facilities.
Beth McCuskey, Purdue vice provost for student life, said the multisport field complex will be a great benefit for students.
"The sport clubs that will be served are highly competitive, and having enhanced fields in one location will accommodate thousands of Purdue students who will use these fields for many years to come," McCuskey said. "The space will enable us to host a wide range of competitive activities for our club teams."
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Todd's Creek, which currently runs along State Street through the Purdue campus, will be relocated to a more natural location within the Purdue Arboretum’s Horticulture Park. Its relocation will not only support wetland areas, but also help mitigate flooding in and around the area. (Image Provided by Purdue Research Foundation) |
The Purdue Student Farm also will move to the new area, and facilities will be upgraded with the move. It addition to having access to restrooms, irrigation water and new greenhouse space, a parking facility will make roadside marketing of produce possible.
"The student farm is an important experiential learning laboratory for our students interested in small-scale, local and organic agriculture," said Jay Akridge, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Purdue Agriculture. "This move will enable convenient access for our students, upgrade some important facilities, and increase the visibility of the student farm on campus and with the community."
The Purdue Village Gardens will have a new location for summertime gardening just south of the Purdue Village residence halls.
The Purdue Arboretum also will receive some enhancements. Todd's Creek will be relocated to a more natural location within Horticulture Park. The creek currently runs along State Street, and its relocation will not only support wetland areas, but also help mitigate flooding in and around the area that has been an ongoing concern for decades.
"Horticulture Park is one of the most stunning natural settings in Indiana. We are excited to enhance the park in this way," said Dan Hasler, president of Purdue Research Foundation. "The goal for the park, in addition to enhancing its beauty, is to increase visitors by making it even more accessible to students and the public. Realistically, we know some trees and other plants will have to be transplanted or removed, but a new tree will be planted for any that have to be cut as part of this improvement. We will take this opportunity to work with Purdue's outstanding horticulturists and arborists to create an even more diverse ecosystem with a more natural stream and new trees introduced to the south end of the park. The additional walkways will encourage more visitations to this very special university amenity."
There are plans for bike and walking trails through the park that will connect it with State Street. The Purdue Arboretum Board of Advisors will help in the selection of new tree and plant varieties for the arboretum.
"We currently have more than 800 types of plants throughout campus and Horticulture Park, and this project presents an opportunity to add even more variety to our campus collection," said Paul Siciliano, arboretum director and professor of horticulture and landscape architecture. "I anticipate that we will have even more people visit the park on a regular basis with this project, marking the beginning of renewed interest and enhancements to the park."
Writer: Cynthia Sequin, 765-588-3340, casequin@prf.org
Sources: Dan Hasler, 765-588-3826, djhasler@prf.org
Michael B. Cline, 765-494-8000
Beth McCuskey, 765-496-0341, bmccuske@purdue.edu
Jay T. Akridge, akridge@purdue.edu
Paul Siciliano, 765-494-1346, siciliano@purdue.edu
