By Kassondra Granata
If you’re wondering what happened to the Vance lawn, you’re not alone. The majority of the popular area for outdoor activity has been fenced off.
James Grupp, professional engineer and coordinator of capitol projects and facilities planning, arrived at Vance lawn sporting his casual dress wear, along with his bright neon construction vest and hat.
Grupp is also the CCSU project manager overseeing the construction of the new academic building between Maria Sanford and Davidson Hall and the fencing-off of the Vance lawn.
According to Grupp, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will not allow rainwater or surface runoff to go directly to rivers and streams.
“On campus, whenever we build a new project, we need to build a system to collect the rainwater and let it percolate slowly into the ground,” says Grupp.
With this process, the rain water from the construction of the academic building will be piped down into four 36-foot perforated pipes that will be underground going into Vance lawn. Grupp and his team are putting stones around the pipes so the water will percolate into the stone and into the ground.
One side of Memorial Hall is blocked in order to install a manhole and a piping system to go under into Vance lawn. Fences currently block that side, preventing students access to travel through.
The fencing of Vance lawn does not cover the whole field, but at least two-thirds are now blocked off.
“This green is designed for future projects, so the next major project that goes on at CCSU we will need to use Vance lawn again,” says Grupp.
Students on campus are disappointed that their favorite spot to relax and play numerous activities is blocked off.
“Vance lawn being closed is such a deterrent for programs and having a sense of community down the hill,” says Kerry Lusebrink, a senior. “The next closest space to be active and hang out is all the way on the other side of campus.”
The blocking of Vance lawn denies the incoming freshmen the opportunity to use Vance lawn as they begin their first year at CCSU. John Risme, a freshman is disappointed that he is unable to use Vance as a place to hang out and enjoy campus.
“It’s really tough for us freshmen because we barely got to experience it,” Risme said. “It’s really too bad, I was looking forward to playing Frisbee with my friends.”
Grupp, aware of the negative student feedback, is sympathetic and says the time frame is smaller than most students think.
The excavation and vacancy of Vance lawn will span for two months. “When we are finished,” Grupp adds, “We will put sod on top and by the spring Vance lawn will be restored to its current condition, perhaps even better.”
“Its very difficult to build a building in a campus environment,” states Grupp. “You’re going to have noise, sidewalks blocked off, greens blocked off. There’s not much we can do, it’s a very long process.”
Grupp said he hoped to start the process in the summer but CCSU did not have the proper funding and all contracts weren’t signed until construction began. With construction starting on Sept. 6, the new academic building is estimated to take 18 months to complete and has a target end goal of summer 2013.
