Many students may have noticed the bulky, black posts and rails put up around campus last year to keep tailgaters off the grass.
At the beginning of the summer, Facility Services workers removed the posts from certain areas of campus as part of a long-term landscaping plan.
Fred Fellner, Landscape Services director, said posts, also called bollards, have been removed from the area around the Greek Theater as part of “core enhancement projects” to improve central areas of campus.
These projects are designed to improve the overall quality of the campus, designing “nice conversational areas” and a more pleasant environment, Fellner said.
“We are doing projects at the Greek Amphitheatre, Free Speech Alley, and other areas of campus to really improve the quality of the campus,” Fellner said.
Jason Soileau, landscape design manager, said the projects include constructing an open-air plaza around the Greek Amphitheatre, redesigning and opening up the area near Tower Drive and the Union and constructing sidewalks along South Stadium Drive.
Soileau said students have complained about the narrow walking area along South Stadium and hopes the sidewalks will alleviate the problem.
“There will be 8-foot sidewalks to improve safety,” Soileau said.
In addition, Soileau said designated tailgating spaces will be constructed along South Stadium for sporting events.
Soileau said the projects are being funded from a $1 environmental impact fee on football tickets.
Soileau said the posts and rails put up were only the first part of the project to get people off of sidewalks and grass.
“That was the initial process to mitigate the areas damaged during football game days,” Soileau said.
Although the posts only have been removed from the Greek Theater area, Soileau said Facility Services hopes to remove more rails and posts from other areas of campus as the landscaping continues.
“Some of the bollards are temporary, but some are going to remain,” Soileau said. “The plan is to remove the bollards with landscaping projects.”
Fellner said some landscaping projects include planting bushes and shrubs to prevent tailgating on areas currently being protected by rails and bollards. While some projects are expected to be completed in the near future, Fellner said the entire enhancement project is expected to last several years.