Construction workers will begin the $8.6 million Oval renovations this spring, ending a four-year delay.
The Department of Physical Facilities will host a forum tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in the Conference Theater of the Ohio Union to explain the details of the project and alleviate any concerns the community might have.
“The forum is informational; it is really just to bring people up to speed on the whole process,” said Stephen Volkmann, director of the project.
The rebuilding of the cement paths leading through and around the Oval is the main objective the university wants to accomplish. Another task will be to install an irrigation system throughout the Oval to assist in the maintenance of greens, trees and plants.
This renovation has been in the planning process since 2000. The long delay stemmed from a need for revision coupled with a tight budget because of other campus construction and renovation projects.
“We’ve had a lot of deferred maintenance on the campus, and the Oval is no exception,” said Volkmann.
The original plan for the project consisted only of installing an irrigation system, but as the process was delayed, the university saw a need to rehabilitate the walkways through the Oval as well. The two plans were eventually combined to cut down on the total amount of time it would take to finish each project.
The university contracted landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh to help with planning and costs, which is estimated at $8.6 million.
Some members of the campus community are concerned that the renovation will have a detrimental effect on the vegetation of the Oval.
Sue O’Keeffe, office administrative associate in the Department of Philosophy, is concerned about the removal and “limbing up” of a number of trees on and around the Oval.
She agrees the addition of an irrigation system will have obvious benefits, but she is worried that the manner in which the system is to be installed will be harmful to the remaining trees.
The plan includes digging trenches to install the system, which could be potentially harmful to the roots of trees if the workers are not careful, O’Keeffe said. She hopes additional funding can be provided to allow for a less invasive tunneling process, which would be less likely to cause any damage.
“It is important to note that (the Oval) has never been a static space. It has always been in a state of evolution,” said Volkmann.
Michael Obhof, a junior in economics, sees the plan as bad timing on Ohio State’s part.
“It almost seems like the university has no concern for the students here. If the project has already been delayed this long, why can’t they wait until summer to begin, when there are fewer students on campus?” he said. “In the spring, everyone wants to be on the Oval.”
