The Campus Footprint: Our Eco-System
The University, within the last year and a half, has completed a comprehensive Master Plan study, a Landscape Master Plan study as well as an EPA Assessment study, all of which have identified a great many opportunities for positive, planned change. Some changes that are occurring already are:
- Arcadia University is working with Penn Dot on developing a “Berm” area adjacent to the 309 highway project. This Berm will provide screening from noise as well as allow the University to plant hundreds of trees along the slope as a later part of the plan.
- The University is creating additional green space directly in front of the campus. A new sports field and entry road is being designed for this entry point at the Castle. This design will eliminate the very large paved surface area that was found in the original entry/exit proposal.
- Arcadia has just completed parking lot 5 which includes a state of the art water retention system. Several thousand plants, as well as dozens of trees and shrubs, have been added to this area alone. More will be added upon the completion of the 309/Easton Road projects.
- Next summer, Arcadia will be constructing a 207 foot long, 8 foot wide “Bioswale,” which will eliminate pavement and at the same time provide a natural water absorption system that will support various plant materials.
- Next summer, Arcadia University hopes to implement the plaza design for the Knight Hall Courtyard – this design will eliminate a significant amount of paved surface and enhance the overall beauty and functionality of this area.
- Thousands of perennial, drought resistant plant materials (i.e. plant materials that do not require watering) have been added to campus over the past 18 months. This program will continue, as it reduces landscape costs and beautifies the campus at the same time. These plants recycle themselves every year!
- Arcadia has recently performed a cleanup of a dump area (removed car engines, metal, construction debris, asphalt etc.) on campus. This site is currently being used for storage and reprocessing of recycled construction materials but will very shortly be returned to a natural state.
- The Brubaker II building addition will also sport a new water feature on Campus. It is hoped that this water feature will be supported with access to natural spring water which can be found adjacent to the site.
- The University has demolished two residential houses on Limekiln Pike and restored these properties to green space. Consideration should be given to the additional demolition of several Church Road homes which could result in the creation of a brook front park for some of this reclaimed green space, as it is too narrow for development.
- The University is working with Cheltenham Twp. on a first phase design of a future bike/jogging path that would run adjacent to, or possibly through parts of campus.
