Award Recognizes Campus Landscaping Efforts
Alma College’s campus landscape has received a Presidential Plaque from Keep Michigan Beautiful Inc., a non-profit organization that promotes the overall beautification of the state.
The award is the result of landscaping efforts over the past two years coordinated by Bob Eldridge, a retired Alma College administrator and master gardener.
“The College has been recognized over the years as one of the most beautiful in the state of Michigan,” says Eldridge, former basketball coach and alumni relations director. “Despite the fact that Alma is a registered arboretum, the landscape was getting tired. Many of the shrubs had been planted more than 40 years ago. It was time to give the campus a facelift.”
Dave Buhl, vice president of business affairs, hired Eldridge in 2009 to develop a master design that would include McIntyre Mall, the Reid-Knox Administration Building, library complex, Tyler-VanDusen Campus Center, president’s house perimeter and residence hall areas.
“The basic concept was to give a park-like feel to the campus by removing old over-grown shrubbery and adding a diverse number of plants with lots of color — a combination of small trees, flowering shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses and annuals to dot the landscape, “ says Eldridge.
Assisting Eldridge was a team of student workers that included Davison junior Zach Johnson, Elsie senior Kyle Payne, Saline junior Ryan Mathews, Fremont junior Dana Fend, Alma freshman Janelle Dickman, Howell senior Jason Vanderhovel, Lapeer junior Jeffrey Nielson, Breckenridge junior Andrew Monroe and Sturgis senior William Dresser.
Doug Dice, director of facilities, organized the student work force while Eldridge and Dave Hemmingston, grounds supervisor, oversaw the day-to-day operations.
Posted: Tue, November 30th, 2010 at 2:32PM
