Landscape
Accomplishments
The landscape of Wellesley Campus plays a vital role in the life of the college and major renovations have occurred over the last 10 years to ensure its integrity for future generations. Maintaining large areas as open space, protecting, and in some cases restoring, meadows and wetlands, and encouraging and nurturing a more naturalistic approach have all contributed to the sustainable nature of the college’s environment. Guided by the 1998 Landscape Master Plan, significant portions of the college’s campus have been transformed by the renovation of the landscape and associated infrastructure with a re-centered focus on the primacy of the pedestrian. Sixty acres of the campus have under gone extensive renovation and /or restoration.
As a result, approximately 5.7 acres of bituminous concrete (asphalt) and gravel parking and roadways have been removed and returned to landscape. This transformation included the removal of the tennis courts adjacent to the Service Lot and the abandoned, contaminated courts south of the field house. This reduction in pavement in combination with the construction of the Davis Parking facility reflects our renewed desire to limit the impact of the automobile. Our efforts removed 535 automobiles from core areas of campus and allowed for the incorporation of green space where cars and pavement used to reside.
| Location | Sq. Ft. Removed | Acres Removed |
| Green Hall Courtyard | 6,510 | 0.15 |
| Chapel | 7,852 | 0.18 |
| Tower Hill | 7,603 | 0.175 |
| PSP Abandoned Tennis Courts | 31,527 | 0.72 |
| Alumnae Valley Inc. Tennis Courts | 157,553 | 3.61 |
| AH Gravel Parking | 25,669 | 0.589 |
| Campus Police, Phys. Plant Admin | 9,753 | 0.224 |
| Christmas Tree Alley | 2,382 | 0.054 |
| Totals | 248,849 | 5.702 |
Between 1997 and 2002, over 2,500 trees, 7,000 shrubs and 17,000 ground cover and herbaceous plants were planted throughout the college's landscape. Although the plant database has not been updated since 2002, thousands more trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials, including wetland plants, have been established as part of the Paint Shop Pond, Davis Garage, Wang Campus Center, and Alumnae Valley projects as well as within the overall landscape. It is estimated that 4,000 trees, 14,000 shrubs and tens of thousands of herbaceous perennials have been planted to date.
Hazard Quad
Full renovation including extensive plantings of the quad and areas east
to Munger, west to College Road, and north to Route 135.
Harris (Green Hall) Courtyard
The removal of a 21-car parking lot restored the area to a highly
important landscape courtyard. This was a significant change as the
parking was primarily reserved for Senior Staff. With their support,
reserved parking was abandoned, reaffirming the concept that the
automobile must be subservient to the landscape and pedestrians. This
project was a turning point in the implementation of that concept.
Stone Davis
Renovation of the north and south landscape, including the installation
of an enhanced and more useable patio as well as extensive plantings.
Pendleton Hill
The hill was meticulously cleared of the extensive invasive, exotic
weeds which were dominating the native plants. The northern end was
re-planted, primarily with native species. Planting will continue over
the next few years to restore this to a more typical collegiate wooded
hillside as emphasized in the Landscape Master Plan.
Tupelo Lane
Vehicular circulation was improved by deleting a typical suburban
cul-de-sac and incorporating a narrower one-way loop. Bordering wetland
plants were reestablished and multiple trees and shrubs were planted.
The center island was planted for low maintenance, requiring mowing only
once a year.
Tower Court
The great courtyard and the entire landscape in front of Severance,
Tower, and Claflin were renovated. The roadway which circled in front
of Cervantes was removed and restored to landscape. This change again
provided the opportunity for extensive plantings.
Chapel Lawn
While this project dealt extensively with infrastructure, landscape
improvements were also highly significant. Vehicular circulation was
simplified and reduced; the road behind the Chapel (south) running
towards Stone Davis (east) was eliminated and replaced with a pedestrian
way. All parking around the Chapel was eliminated.
Weaver House
Renovations of this building and landscape, now used by Admissions,
included extensive plantings of trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Paint Shop Pond
This project rescued 30-plus acres of contaminated and unusable land and
cleaned up the northern cove of Lake Waban. The successful remediation
of what had previously been one of the most contaminated sites in
Massachusetts allowed for the creation of much-needed playing fields and
a track. The northern cove of Lake Waban was restored to its current
pristine state and 7.5 acres of wetlands were recreated, representing a
30% increase in wetland area. The clean-up and replanting of Paint Shop
Pond transformed unusable land into healthy and viable habitats for
numerous species of fish, amphibians, and other wildlife.
Davis Parking Garage
The garage allows for the storage of 535 automobiles while maintaining a
relatively small impervious foot print. It was also designed to be open
to the outside at every level thus reducing the need for extensive
mechanical ventilation. Further, a green roof was incorporated into the
design allowing for the planting of trees, shrubs and turf. This
vehicular storage facility allowed for the renovation of Alumnae Valley
and removed parking from many key areas of the core campus. Extensive
plantings blend this structure into the college's landscape.
Wang Campus Center and Alumnae Valley
Both of these projects required the cleanup of contaminated soils.
Alumnae Valley, which formerly held a paved parking lot and tennis
courts, was renovated into a viable, low maintenance landscape. The
total area of planted wetlands was significantly increased. Operations
continue to provide for the long-term remediation of pollutants created
at the turn of the century by an old manufactured gas plant.
Initiatives
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Continue to refine horticultural practices to limit the
use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers and to limit the use of
fossil fuels while maintaining a viable college landscape.
Implementation: Follow and refine developed Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan.
Increase use of organic fertilizers to 30% of total by weight in 2008. Monitor operational and purchasing cost differences which are a very significant premium.
Continue to utilize long chain nitrogen fertilizers to minimize leaching into unwanted areas and to reduce frequency of application.
Continue to upgrade horticultural practices, such as aerification, seeding, etc. to promote healthy turf grasses in 2007-2008, thus limiting the need for herbicides, pesticides and fungicides.
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Continue to control or eliminate invasive, non-native
plant species to promote a diverse and more viable landscape.
Implementation: Weevils were introduced in 2003 to biologically control Eurasian Milfoil in Lake Waban. Control has been significant.
Galerucella beetles will be introduced to control Purple Loosestrife in the Science Center Meadows and in the wetlands of Paint Shop Pond. Beetle populations and the progress of control will be monitored for 2-3 years. The beetles were introduced into the Science Center Meadow in August 2007. A large population of "self introduced" Galerucella beetles were observed in the wetlands of Paint Shop Pond Summer of 2007 and caused significant damage to nearly all of the Purple Loosestrife in this area.
Investigate and test various methods of control including an ecologically friendly method for potential control of Phragmites in the Science Center meadow by employing technology which utilizes application of corn and coconut sugars at very high temperatures. (Begun summer 2007, ongoing)
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Incorporate additional plantings to sequester carbon on
the main campus and on other campus land holdings, such as the woods
surrounding Lake Waban which has lost most of its predominant hemlocks.
Implementation: Continue to replace and augment plantings throughout campus.
Plant the remainder of Pendleton Hill (gift) and area south of the Davis Museum (spring 2008)
Remove dead hemlocks along the north shore of Lake Waban and replant with native species. (2008-2011)
- Attain National Audubon Certification for the Nehoiden Golf Course.
- Continue to upgrade site lighting by replacing high pressure sodium fixtures with more energy efficient lamps and fixtures while maintaining an acceptable and safe level of illumination.
- Renovate the Sage Landscape using the 1998 Landscape Master Plan and sustainable criteria as a guide.
- Plan and implement renovations to the Academic Quad. Utilize the 1998 Landscape Master Plan and sustainable criteria as a guide.