By Erika Klimchak
People who have been around the University of Louisville for years have seen drastic changes in the campus recently as part of an aggressive beautification effort.
Hundreds of new trees and shrubs have been planted, new sidewalks and lighting have been installed, and deteriorating buildings have been torn down or renovated while new banners depicting important U of L alumni and athletes brighten intersections, sidewalks and dormitories.
When asked about the university’s aesthetic improvements, freshman Candace Coots said, “Since this year is my first time on U of L’s campus, I haven’t noticed any specific changes, but I have noticed that the campus looks nice. I think that the different beautification projects show that the administration has a care and concern for students.”
Thanks to a $1 million grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, many projects have been completed or are ongoing. One of the most visible renovation projects has been the $174,178 spent on the Oval Entrance on Third Street. The renovation was started to more clearly identify the university. In addition to improved lighting and new flagpoles, the masonry to the entrance was restored, a larger U of L sign was installed and new shrubs were planted.
“We’ve spent $432,432 on improvements to Arthur Street, Cardinal Boulevard and Fourth Street,” said Larry Owsley, vice president of Business Affairs. “We received permission from the state to tear down all of the fences on Arthur Street to make a more pleasant drive and then planted 29 trees. We removed all of the overgrowth and dead plants along Fourth and Cardinal Boulevard and planted 204 trees.”
Improvements have also been made to Parkway Field on Eastern Parkway. “We demolished a deteriorated wall and constructed a new one, installed an emergency call box and security cameras, as well as 480 feet of new sidewalk and lighting, removed graffiti from the Eastern Parkway retaining wall and planted 15 trees and 90 shrubs,” Owsley said. The cost for the project totaled $160,000.
A new lacrosse field is being created where an old peanut butter factory once stood on Floyd Street, across from the silos. Owsley said a new park will also be built just south of the lacrosse field in honor of businessman and former Kentucky Commerce Chief Jack Segell.
Jane Ramsey, chair of the Beautification Committee and wife of U of L President James Ramsey, has made strides in making the campus more visible. “We started the banner program and painted the logo at intersections as a way to define the campus, so that when you step onto our campus, you know you’re at the University of Louisville.”
Ramsey explained that the banners depict distinguished alumni and athletes and that the committee hopes to create a walking trail so people can read about the important figures as they walk around the university.
“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback and gotten a lot of bang for our buck out of our banner program, especially from the ones we put up on the dorms,” Ramsey said. “Since they’ve been such a success, for homecoming we’re going to put up banners of old kings and queens in the center of campus.”
Ramsey said that the beautification project funding, seeded by the Transportation Cabinet grant, has been expanded through fundraising efforts. A new project has just been launched where bricks from Parkway Field will be sold individually or in sets. The bricks will display a plaque with the buyer’s name engraved on it.
Improvements to the railroad overpasses, additional student housing and graduate housing on Third Street are future projects being discussed by the Beautification Committee.
“There is always something that needs to be done, so we just try to prioritize and work on things a little at a time as we get money,” Ramsey said.
