Most people are already well aware of several areas that landscaping is used for the common good. Most landscapes are interested in planting trees, shrubs and flowers in order to support their surrounding ecosystems. Landscaped areas, certainly including golf courses and sports fields, are well known for their ability to decrease pollution and other environmental benefits. The mental well-being of visitors and patrons can be much improved by exposure to the natural environment we all work in and support. But what is less discussed, and maybe even less considered is how the landscape can be used for social good.

Providing Stable Employment and Community Benefits

I recently came across an article from the Chicago Tribune that discussed the landscape crew that maintains the public medians in downtown Chicago. This landscape crew works for A Safe Haven. This is a company that provides housing, counseling, addiction treatment and job training to people that are homeless or in crisis. The two men in this story have troubled pasts that they have overcome thanks to having stable employment, a marketable skill, and perhaps most importantly, a sense of appreciation for their work and the satisfaction it offers. There is frequently a strong sense of self-pride in maintaining the landscape and this emotion can be a powerful social factor towards gainful employment.

Supporting Education Opportunities

One might think the landscape on a university is inherently supportive of education. In a broad sense that is true. But here at Drury University we want to take that relationship further, creating direct opportunities for supporting education. DU recently opened the L.E. Meador Center for Politics & Citizenship. In support of this effort, Drury Grounds renovated the L.E. Meador Garden on campus. The design concept was built around the important dates in Dr. Meadors career at Drury. This project underscores the relationship between the academic mission of DU and its landscape

We also are a learning lab for our neighbor, Ozarks Technical College. OTC has a landscaping program offering a landscape classes and a 2 year degree in landscaping agriculture. Due to our age (Est. 1873) and our plant diversity, we are a regular stop for several plant ID classes. We also have a predominantly organic turf maintenance regime so we provide OTC students an image of alternative turf maintenance. Our role as both a residential school and commuter school also provides some diversity into landscape design principles.

Honoring Our Veterans

Drury University is ranked a Military Friendly School. Veterans are supported, assimilated, and benefited through a variety of academic programs. We have an Armed Forces Plaza that is dedicated to the specific goal of honoring our Veterans. Recently the DU Grounds Crew began looking at how we might upgrade and highlight this area to make it truly a reverential area. Our first step was to purchase bronze plaques of the U.S. Military insignias for mounting in this plaza. We approached the Drury University Student Veterans Group and they were able to incorporate the plaques into their Veterans Day celebration this November. We are looking at future landscaping improvements (trees, dedicated gardens, lighting, etc.) to maintain an active appreciation for their valuable service.

Reaching into the Community

Drury Grounds is also very active on several fronts in our neighborhood, greater Springfield, and the state. In our neighborhood we have several members of the neighborhood association on our Landscape Committee, and have held trainings for neighbors. We have partnered with the City of Springfield Public Works to plant more than 75 trees in the right of ways around campus, and we are active members of the Missouri Community Forestry Council. All of these efforts allow us to build relationships that are good for the community, and good for Drury. These mutual benefit efforts create good will and a sense of ownership that cements Drurys place in the community. An upcoming effort is collecting community Christmas trees which we will chip and use as mulch on campus.

More Than Just Mowers

Drury Grounds seeks to be critical to success of Drury University. By looking at diverse and imaginative ways we can integrate Grounds into the campus we assure our own success and competitiveness. No idea seems too outlandish even though many dont actually come to pass. Every university has green grass and pretty flowers. How will Drury Grounds be special? Seeking differentiation, or creating a signature is what we are after. Adding value through social efforts makes great sense.