Category: Landscaping

Have you noticed the new signage on Lake Drive? Clemson University Facilities has installed new signage to help ensure pedestrian safety and to remind everyone to clean up after their pets.

A Resource for Work and Play

The Clemson University Wastewater Treatment Plant has always enjoyed sharing Lake Drive with the community as a scenic walking space. To keep both humans and animals safe, University Facilities asks all visitors to keep their pets on leashes while walking along the asphalt pathway. Lake Drive is the only vehicular entrance to the Wastewater Treatment Plant and has regular vehicular traffic. In addition to being a well-used service road, emergency responders rely on Lake Drive to access the plant. Your help in keeping pets leashed and ideally out of the roadway as vehicles travel to and from the plant is much appreciated.

Lake Hartwell

When left unbagged, untreated pet waste containing harmful bacteria enters stormwater runoff. This material impacts wildlife living in or near Hartwell Lake. Bacterial pollution can also harm water quality for local recreation and drinking. The best way to counter bacterial pollution is to bag all pet waste. If left behind, simply being contained prevents the spread of bacteria via runoff. Even so, Clemson University Facilities has installed signs along Lake Drive to remind everyone to bag their pet’s waste and dispose of it in the nearest trash receptacle. This keeps the path not just environmentally friendly but a pleasant for everyone to use. We’re grateful for everyone’s contribution in this—it’s a community effort to ensure the lake remains healthy and the path remains open for everyone to enjoy.

Clemson Recycling had the opportunity to partner with the Boy Scouts and the City of Clemson to create a bioretention basin in Gateway Park along the Green Crescent Trail. Clemson Recycling donated compost for the project, which was used along with topsoil to create a soil mix for filling in space where eroded land was removed. Not only will this project beautify and control erosion in the park, it will create a valuable opportunity to educate the Clemson community about the uses of compost in caring for the environment.

The majority of the work took place last week in Gateway Park. The City of Clemson prepared for the project by digging out eroded areas of land, and the Boy Scouts came to the park on Saturday to work. Removing the eroded areas of land made room for swales, which work similarly to gutters, catching all the rainwater. Where a gutter would allow all the water to just pour out and away, a swale catches the water and slowly releases it back to the earth over time. On Saturday, the Boy Scouts worked together to fill in the swales with the soil mix. Soil mix is better than clay because it provides for greater permeability and it promotes a healthy soil ecosystem for future planting.

Projects like this are wonderful ways for the community to be inspired by others showing their appreciation for the environment. According to a Water Resource agent with Clemson University, bioretention projects like this one are great examples of “Low Impact Development (LID) within our Clemson community.” Normally, rainwater would build up and flood nearby roads, parking lots and rooftops. Buildup of water like this can contribute to “erosion and pollution of ground and surface water via stormwater runoff.” Thanks to this project, our water is cleaner, and our landscape is healthier and more beautiful. It’s because of people like those involved with this project that our shared resources can continue to improve!

Another major summer construction project has been completed: the reconstruction of the intersection of Walter T. Cox Boulevard and Calhoun Drive is now finished, with traffic flowing along WTC across all four lanes. Calhoun Drive is also fully accessible. The intersection now features a 4-inch tall traffic speed table designed to calm traffic through this pedestrian-heavy area between Sikes Hall, Douthit Hills and the soon to be completed College of Business.

Some work remains to be done with sidewalk construction and landscaping, but no further road closures are expected to be necessary.

In an effort to promote inclusion on campus, staff members from several Clemson University financial departments participated in ‘A Day in the Life of University Facilities,’ which allowed participants the chance to experience a typical work day for many Facilities employees: specifically, those in the areas of Custodial, Landscape, and Maintenance Services.

Sierra Holland, Administrative Coordinator to Brett Dalton and main organizer of the event, stated, “A Day in University Facilities was Brett’s idea.  He really pushed to make this happen, as an opportunity for the CONNECT for Inclusion cohorts to gain a better appreciation of the effort it takes for our team members in Facilities to make our campus look as beautiful as it does.  Going into the event, there was some reluctance as to the ‘real’ purpose behind having the cohort members spend a day in Facilities, as there was some concern about ulterior motives.  There were complaints about starting the day at 4:30am with our custodial team members, as some had to make adjustments to their personal lives.  But that is part of appreciating what other team members do.  I take my daughter to school and wish her a good day.  After having to be at work at 4:30am, I now have a greater appreciation for that time with her.  I think once people got over being here so early, the day was a real success.  I’ve received so many requests asking that we make this day a recurring event!  Perhaps the biggest win is the number of suggestions I’ve received from the CONNECT for Inclusion cohort members advocating for our Facilities team members and the different things we can do to help make their working environment more comfortable – from dri-fit shirts for landscaping and grounds team members, to turning on the air conditioning/heat earlier for our custodial partners – the increased consideration for others has been touching to hear.”

Chris Miller, University Facilities Customer Service Manager, assisted with the planning of the two-day event.  According to Chris, ‘Day in the Life’ provided a unique opportunity for the CONNECT for Inclusion cohorts to work alongside our frontline technicians. After speaking with many of the cohorts afterward, it was apparent that they not only came away a different perspective, but gained even more appreciation for what the Facilities’ staff members do for the University day-in and day-out.

“Brett Dalton’s vision for this event really came to life when you saw Todd Barnette painting athletic fields on a hot sunny day, Shirley Alexander and Lori Brierre insulating piping in a steamy Sirrine mechanical room, or Steve Crump spreading what seemed like endless yards of mulch behind ASC. It really was a great experience for both the cohorts and their Facilities partners. Even if it did start at 4:30am!” Chris said.

The Day in Someone Else’s Shoes

To kick off the event, cohorts joined the Custodial Department for their daily Safety Growl, which covered the negative effects of working while tired. From there, each cohort was paired with a custodian and worked side-by-side with them for 2 hours in the custodian’s assigned building. Next, the cohorts attended the Landscape Services Safety Growl where they learned how to identify and treat exposure to harmful plants like Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac. Everyone then traveled to the Academic Success Center to work with Landscape crews to re-mulch, pull weeds, and plant flowers in the area for 2 hours. The final leg of the day had each cohort partnering with a maintenance technician for 2 hours and assisting in various projects, such as painting athletic fields, insulating steam lines, pouring concrete, and installing electrical conduit.

GALLERY

The ClemsonLIFE program continues to grow so much that its current headquarters on the third floor of Godfrey Hall is no longer adequate for its size. In response to a need for additional square footage, ClemsonLIFE will move to a new location on Clemson’s main campus.

Starting this summer, ClemsonLIFE will officially claim the garden level of Tillman Hall as its new home. With an expected 13 new students arriving this fall–increasing the program’s enrollment to 40 students–the goal of the move is to establish a larger, inviting ‘home’ for all. The additional space in the garden level suite will be converted into a dedicated conference room for faculty,  and feature three classrooms for students. Director Erica Walters credits Founding Dean of the College of Education and ClemsonLIFE advocate George Petersen for acquiring the space and arranging the move, and Rick Owens of University Facilities for managing the renovations required by the program.

“It has been a true team effort, with support from President Clements, Dean Petersen, Dr. Joe Ryan, Rick Owens and his team, ” said Walters. “In August, the students of ClemsonLIFE will walk into a high-tech, top-notch facility that matches the Clemson Forward vision in research, engagement, academics, and living. We are thrilled to be a part of the Clemson family and ingrained in the culture of Clemson.”

One of the renovations included a full-floor restoration. The work was completed by external contractors, two full-time employees from ClemsonLIFE, as well as additional program volunteers.

ClemsonLIFE students will also enjoy new living quarters beginning in the 2018-2019 academic year. Housing has arranged for the students to move from Lightsey Bridge to the new Douthit Hills suites at the beginning of the fall semester.

Spring Flower Planting

Before entering the new suite, visitors will notice a new flower bed on Tillman’s north side. That’s the work of ClemsonLIFE participants, who worked with Landscape Services to plant various flora, which included “Setsugekkas” (camellia sassanqua), “Big Blues” (Liriope muscari), and “‘Nana’ Dwarf Yaupon Holly” (ilex vomitaria). The north side will also receive a new building awning welcoming students, families and guests to the main entrance, while still keeping with the traditional visual of Tillman.