2008 Woodie Awards
City park plans pose greener future for ACU
Lauren Sutton, Copy Editor
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
With the partnership of ACU and the city of Abilene, the community may see a new park area close to Interstate
20 in its near future.
ACU has proposed the creation of a greener, more manicured park area near Rainy Creek east of Judge Ely Boulevard and northeast of the campus, and thus far, the city has been in compliance with ACU's plan.
In this instance, ACU would provide labor and equipment, and the city would provide assistance in the channeling of Rainy
Creek for the completion of the project.
"We would have to change the channel, and when we do that, we trigger the need to go through the state and federal levels who deal with floods; it changes the flood plane," said Bob Nevill, director of physical resources.
Though doing anything about the channel is at least a year away, the university is "doing what it must" to have engineers study the rechanneling of Rainy Creek, Nevill said.
The university began thinking about developing a park area about 18 months ago and proposed the idea so people would feel ACU's presence after driving under I-20.
ACU had landscape architects from Dallas look at the area around Allen Farm and make suggestions as to how to best use the space.
"I wouldn't expect it to be as formal as the entrance of the campus," Nevill said. "It will be irrigated and kept up with. There is a lot of conversation around that."
Not only would a park area provide a more aesthetically
pleasing view of ACU campus from the interstate, it would serve as a venue for pedestrian walkways. Other ideas for the space include placing student artwork around the creek.
"There have to be some interest points to attract people to it," said Nevill. "We want a nice view from the interstate."
E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
20 in its near future.
ACU has proposed the creation of a greener, more manicured park area near Rainy Creek east of Judge Ely Boulevard and northeast of the campus, and thus far, the city has been in compliance with ACU's plan.
In this instance, ACU would provide labor and equipment, and the city would provide assistance in the channeling of Rainy
Creek for the completion of the project.
"We would have to change the channel, and when we do that, we trigger the need to go through the state and federal levels who deal with floods; it changes the flood plane," said Bob Nevill, director of physical resources.
Though doing anything about the channel is at least a year away, the university is "doing what it must" to have engineers study the rechanneling of Rainy Creek, Nevill said.
The university began thinking about developing a park area about 18 months ago and proposed the idea so people would feel ACU's presence after driving under I-20.
ACU had landscape architects from Dallas look at the area around Allen Farm and make suggestions as to how to best use the space.
"I wouldn't expect it to be as formal as the entrance of the campus," Nevill said. "It will be irrigated and kept up with. There is a lot of conversation around that."
Not only would a park area provide a more aesthetically
pleasing view of ACU campus from the interstate, it would serve as a venue for pedestrian walkways. Other ideas for the space include placing student artwork around the creek.
"There have to be some interest points to attract people to it," said Nevill. "We want a nice view from the interstate."
E-mail Sutton at: les03c@acu.edu
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