By Dennis O’Niel
Gov. Ernie Fletcher stunned university officials at the State Capitol with a surprise $1 million dollar check to help redesign the entrance in front of Grawmeyer Hall.
Fletcher presented the surprise check along with $5.3 million in funds requested by the university to improve the roadways and infrastructure at Shelby Campus, which houses conference facilities, classrooms for non-credit continuing education courses and for-credit classes.
“In all honesty, I think everyone was pretty surprised,” University of Louisville Vice President of Marketing and Communications John Drees said about the million dollar check. “We put in the request for funding from the Governor, but we didn’t expect to receive it in that fashion.”
“Fletcher’s surprise check definitely takes away pain from not getting state bonds for the stadium expansion,” said senior sociology major Duy Ho, of a decision which came about two weeks ago.
According to Drees, the university will use most of the one million dollars to improve the appearance and address a safety issue of the university’s front entrance.
In the past, drivers have used the open area in front of the entrance as a turnaround, endangering pedestrians in the process. “I don’t think it would fair to call it a ‘safety hazard,'” Drees said, “but the area could definitely be improved from a safety standpoint and this money will help us to do that.” He said the money will fund the extension of the Oval to eliminate that area.
Drees praised Fletcher for his assistance in making campus improvements. “Governor Fletcher has always been very responsive in helping us improve this area,” Drees said. “When there has been an issue in safety, he has always been very good in helping us take care of it.”
The money will also go toward beautifying the entrance.
Drees said there are hopes to replace old trees, install a water feature on the lawn and replace the pavement of the entrance’s facade with cobblestone or stamped concrete.
“It sounds like it would look nice,” said freshman political science major Boris Yelin. “But I think there are areas on campus that deserve attention, not just for beautification, but for practical issues like improving the quality of our educational facilities.”
Ho said he thinks the university should improve campus sidewalks and the “outdated” Houchens Building, which houses the Admissions Office and the Financial Aid Office.
Drees said planning for the Oval’s reconstruction will begin soon.
The entrance plans also tie in with plans to renovate Stansbury Park which are set to begin this summer, Drees added. However, neither the city nor federal government has yet to respond to the university’s funds request.
The other $5.3 million will go toward the construction of a new road network to help reduce traffic congestion surrounding Shelby Campus. The network will provide a new roadway through the campus to alleviate traffic buildup at the Hurstbourne Parkway-Shelbyville Road intersection.
