Student Recreation Fields get sustainable certification

The Student Recreation Fields is among the first projects in the world to be certified by the Sustainable Sites Initiative, a pilot program that is creating national guidelines for sustainable land design.

The fields, which were selected in 2010 as a pilot, is also the first project in the state to become certified. More than 150 projects around the world were chosen as pilots to be used to revise a performance rating system.

“This recognition is evidence of our project’s achievement in demonstrating an innovative and successful application of sustainable land design and development practices,” said James Moyer, assistant vice president for Facilities Planning. “Our participation has been invaluable in testing and improving the rating system.”

The project was judged based on efforts in categories such as site selection, pre-design assessment and planning, water, soil and vegetation, material selection, human health and well-being, operations and maintenance, and monitoring and innovation.
 
The fields, which were dedicated in October 2011, provide more room for the growing number of students involved in athletics and intramural sports and clubs on campus. The fields encompass 65 acres and include a stormwater management system, a rugby field, a lacrosse field, a 400 meter track, two softball fields, a track throws area and picnic shelters.

The Sustainable Site Initiative Program is an interdisciplinary effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden to create voluntary national guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable land design, construction and maintenance practices.