communigator - College of Journalism and Communications

Weimer Hall front lawn makeover mostly unnoticed, still appreciated

By Kim Hart

Five thousand square feet of sod, more than 350 shrubs, 10 trees, eight rocks, four benches and two picnic tables. You’d think people would have noticed the recent transformation of Weimer Hall’s front lawn.

“Landscaping? Oh, I didn’t notice a difference,” said PR senior Mariam Ali.

“For some reason, I thought the picnic tables had always been there,” echoed ADV junior Josh Greenbarg.

Even faculty and staff overlooked the newly mulched flowerbeds and freshly laid brick walkways. But the change caught the eyes of Sue Wagner, JM 1981, WUFT’s director of communications.

“Before this, they were mowing dead grass three times a week,” Wagner said. “It is a major improvement and very pleasing to the eye.”

The UF Physical Plant Division altered the College’s landscape for the first time since Weimer Hall was built more than two decades ago. And 24 years had taken its toll. Cars and service trucks mangled the lawn and smashed plant roots. A leaking steam pipe killed several trees. Students had no place to sit at the bus stop.

“This area was in desperate need of renovation,” said Marty Wertz, the plant division’s landscaping director. “This is a high-traffic area, close to the stadium, with a lot of important people passing through. It needs to look nice.”

Five workers spent nearly a week replacing hundreds of plants with seven beds of native plants, Wertz said. Native Buli grass, a small wispy shrub that requires less water and maintenance, replaced the larger ornamental hedge plants that made the lawn appear outdated.

Arrowwood and flowering swamp dogwood trees, two native varieties, now line the walkway along the telecommunications wing. Brick curbs and several boulders prevent cars from encroaching on the lawn, he said.

“The goal was to tie the whole area together to create a sense of continuity,” Wertz said.

But will anyone notice?

“The warm weather lets everyone take advantage of the area,” Wagner said, “and enjoy spending time out there much more.”