University of Kansas

Prairie Acre Future Site Design Spring 2016 EVRN 615

Authors Rodney Hodges, Robert Marshall, John McIntosh, Billy Tope, and Ryan Waters

Prairie Acre (McIntosh- Prairie Acre, KU- 2016)

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. Phase I- Prairie Acre Flora 6

1. Prairie Acre Restoration 6

2. Demonstration Garden 7

3. Phase II- Prairie Acre Infrastructure 10

1. Outdoor Multipurpose Area 10

2. ADA and Walkways 10

3. Perimeter Rock Wall 13

4. Phase III- Indiana Street Triangle 14

1. Option 1: Sunflower/prairie grass patch 15

2. Option 2: Street side visitor/bus parking 17

5. Conclusion 18

6. Works Cited 20

7. Appendix 22

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Abstract: Among the numerous lawns, flowerbeds, and stands of trees located throughout the University of Kansas, some are not only historically important but ecologically important as well. Dating back to 1878 when Chancellor James Marvin secured native walnut trees to be planted by faculty and students in what was then known as “North Hollow,” but is now better known as Marvin Grove, the University has a long history of preservation and conservation efforts (Campus Heritage plan, p. 6 - 1). The University of Kansas Campus Heritage Plan lists Prairie Acre as eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a result of its historical significance dating to 1929. With that history in mind, the Spring 2016 Environmental Studies Capstone students set out to develop additional restoration, preservation, and conservation plans, which would continue in those historical footsteps. The Future Site Design Group specifically sought to design elements that could be included in the Prairie Acre restoration project, as well as the area surrounding Prairie Acre, so that underutilized space would be more purposeful and deserving of continued preservation and restoration. Elements to be included will fulfill educational, aesthetic, biodiversity and erosion control roles. Ultimately, the Prairie Acre and the surrounding areas will be enhanced for students, staff, faculty and the general public for many generations to come. INTRODUCTION

Tucked away in a corner of the University of Kansas’ Lawrence campus, a small remnant

of native prairie has remained untouched since the University’s inception. This area, known as

Prairie Acre, has been largely sheltered from development since its dedication in 1932; however,

years of neglect and improper management have led to its gradual decline (Hersey). Fortunately,

not all hope is lost for Prairie Acre. Recent efforts have begun to improve the health of Prairie

Acre; however, it is the belief of Dr. Kelly Kindscher and the Environmental Studies Capstone

students that a redesign and restoration is in order to rejuvenate the area. This report, one facet of

a six-part effort to create a comprehensive restoration plan for Prairie Acre, will focus on

proposed redesigns of Prairie Acre and adjacent areas. Beginning with Prairie Acre proper, this

report tackles potential obstacles associated with the redesign, offers suggestions for the future,

and serves as a springboard for the creation of a new Prairie Acre.

To more easily and effectively communicate our vision for a new Prairie Acre, this report

has been divided into sections based on the implementation phase in which the project has been

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placed. Besides Prairie Acre proper—the original, one-third acre prairie remnant—an area just

north of Prairie Acre and the triangular plot just south of Prairie Acre have been slated for future

projects. Proposals for each of these sites will be detailed later in the report; however, a brief

overview will be provided here.

As of April 2016, plans have already been put in motion to replant and reseed Prairie Acre

with over 100 additional native prairie plants. While these plans move forward, a redesign of the

original Prairie Acre is largely unneeded although there are several points of focus within Prairie

Acre, which must be addressed. First, the dry-stack stone wall which once marked the

boundaries of Prairie Acre is in a poor state of repair

and will soon require restacking or complete

removal. A second area of concern near Prairie Acre

is the dirt walking path heading east from Prairie

Acre in front of the Chancellor’s house (Figure 1).

Currently a source of erosion, this “cowpath”

requires some type of paving in order to limit further

degradation. More prominent signage denoting the

significance of Prairie Acre is another concern

though this will be more thoroughly explored in a separate report. Given Prairie Acre’s historical

significance and the restoration efforts currently in progress, a redesign of the area will not be

proposed at this time.

One of the largest issues faced by efforts to restore and preserve native prairie is the lack of

awareness demonstrated by the general public. Much of this disinterest, however, can be

attributed to a lack of knowledge; therefore, a demonstration garden populated with

Figure 1- Cowpath heading east from Prairie Acre (Robert Marshall- 2016)

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representative native prairie species would remedy this and is a top priority for future efforts. A

suitable site just north of Prairie Acre has been chosen for the demonstration garden. This site

provides a relatively flat foundation with excellent drainage, suitable soil type, and a south-

facing slope with adequate sunlight. The design for this garden, based on established

permaculture practices, is intended to provide an aesthetically-pleasing and inviting environment

which is both easy to maintain and open to visitation by the university’s student body, faculty,

staff, and the general public (Building a Mandala Garden). During our research, relatively few

physical obstacles to the establishment of a demonstration garden have been found, and it is the

recommendation of this report that such a garden be created as soon as possible.

Formed by the intersections of Indiana Street, Sunnyside Avenue, and Sunflower Road, the

Indiana Street Triangle (hereafter referred to simply as “the Triangle”) is located just to the south

of Prairie Acre. This area is owned by the University and is currently planted to Bermuda grass,

which is mowed by the University staff. Such a large area (55,000 ft2) so near to Prairie Acre

holds great potential for complete restoration to native prairie or a less-intensive restoration

which would involve planting a combination of native grasses and sunflowers (Brandenburgh et

al., 17). Furthermore, given the need to inform the public of Prairie Acre and prairie ecosystems

more generally, the currently unused triangle could potentially be adapted to allow for bus

parking and facilitate field trips to the area. While the triangle holds great potential, it has been

given a low priority at this time in favor of the Prairie Acre restoration and establishment of a

demonstration garden.

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PHASE I

Prairie Acre Restoration. Prairie Acre is currently undergoing a restoration involving the

implementation of routine burning management practices, and as of April 2016 a replanting

initiative to reintroduce biodiversity

lost due to long-term neglect. The

site design goal for the restoration of

Prairie Acre is to expand the native

grass area beyond the existing

perimeter wall, displacing the entirety

of the surrounding Bermuda grass

area with prairie plant species. In the

2008 Campus Heritage Plan, the

report identified ‘treatment zones’ as “areas of campus maintaining significant commonalities

with their ‘sense of place’ within the campus fabric” and would therefore justify the removal of

the Bermuda grass surrounding Prairie Acre as it does not contribute to the commonality of the

Prairie Acre Treatment Zone (Campus Heritage Plan, 2008). Removing trees in the treatment

zone will also be necessary as a function of expanding the prairie grasses since the two types of

flora will be competing for the same resources. Tree removal will require an inventory provided

by the Kansas Forest Service in order to determine tree health and which trees will require

removal. It is the Site Design group’s conviction that eliminating dead/dying trees will enhance

the visual appeal of Prairie Acre and the adjacent areas by removing visual obstructions.

Currently, a significant challenge in the Prairie Acre restoration is dealing with the dry-

stone wall forming the perimeter of the original prairie grass plot. According to the 2008 Campus

Figure 2- Proposed expansion of Prairie Acre (Robert Marshall/Google Earth 2016) The dark green area is the current Prairie Acre site, while the intermediate shade represents an area which has been recently planted in native species, and the lightest shade is the proposed area for expansion.

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Heritage Plan, Prairie Acre is eligible for selection into the National Register of Historic Places

(NRHP), which is operated by the National Park Service. Should the age, integrity, and

significance be deemed great enough, Prairie Acre could be admitted. Some incentives for being

admitted into the NRHP include federal preservation grants for planning and rehabilitation as

well as federal investment tax credits for the University of Kansas (United States National Park

Service). Any further action involving the dry-stone wall is pending assessment from the

National Park Service, or any other concerned parties within the University administration.

Modification of the dry stone wall will be elaborated more in Phase II of this report; however, in

relation to expansion of the prairie grass plot, it is recommended that the wall be entirely

removed in order to create the most available ground space for prairie species.

Demonstration Garden. The demonstration garden component of the Future Site Design group

will be very important in the future. The purpose of the demonstration garden is to help visitors

from the University or the surrounding community who are currently uninformed about native

prairies in Kansas. When designing the demonstration

garden, many factors needed to be addressed to ensure

that space is used effectively and efficiently. As a group,

we hoped to design a garden that would be both easy to

maintain and friendly to the public. Furthermore, our

design is meant to allow access to all areas of the garden

without causing disturbances to the plant beds and also to

eliminate trampling of the garden. Figure 3- Proposed Demonstration Garden Design (Billy Tope- 2016)

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The layout and design of the demonstration garden is based on a permaculture practice

known as a Mandala or keyhole garden (Figure 3). This design is meant to maximize the amount

of gardening space while still allowing for easy access to all parts of the garden without

trampling any of the plants (Building a Mandala Garden, 2007). Ensuring the site was accessible

and appealing to visitors was one of the key objectives that we wanted to address. Our proposed

design has pathways large enough for teachers and other lecturers to lead tours for students and

the general public. Two other groups, who are working on education and signage, will be

collaborating to create signs that will help educate visitors about the native plants. We were also

able to collaborate with the group focused on promoting healthy communities of pollinators who

assisted us in determining the garden’s dimensions. After collaborating with the pollinators

group, 300 ft2 of bed space was determined to be sufficient for all of the intended plants that will

be going into the demonstration garden. Using AutoCAD, a scale design of the garden with the

appropriate bed space was created and resulted in the dimensions 20ftx20ft. The pathways are 2ft

in width and the inner circle is 7ft in diameter.

Another objective that we wanted to be sure to address is that of easy maintenance.

Learning from past experiences and as seen in the KU Native Medicinal Plant Garden (see

Appendix B), weeds tend to pose a major problem in gardens of this design and can take over

open spaces like the pathways. One way this problem can be addressed is by the use of cement

pavers or gravel to create pathways. The only drawback to using these materials is that they can

be very expensive to purchase and labor-intensive to install (see Appendix A). An alternative

would be to use mulch for the pathways as it can be acquired free of charge from many tree

trimming companies, although this mulch may not be of the highest quality. The choice of

material will likely be based upon the total budget for the demonstration garden and the amount

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deemed appropriate to spend on the pathways. Construction of the demonstration garden will be

a large undertaking that will require recruitment of volunteers as well as knowledgeable staff to

construct.

The demonstration garden’s location is key to the design. We wanted to ensure that the

garden would be in an ideal location

in terms of surface water

management and easy access for

visitors. Based on the slope of the

ground on and around Prairie Acre,

it was decided that the garden

should be placed just northeast of

the current Prairie Acre. This

location has a slight gradient to prevent water from pooling but not so much that a heavy rain

could wash the garden away. This location is also free of any physical obstructions such as rocks,

trees or shrubs so that it would not require extensive preparation for planting. Furthermore, this

location has adequate space for our design and is located near an established sidewalk ensuring

that the demonstration garden will be highly visible and inviting.

Figure 4- Location of Demonstration Garden relative to Prairie Acre (Billy Tope- 2016)

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PHASE II

Outdoor Multipurpose Area. The Site Design group wishes to create a multiuse outdoor area for

visitors to gather and experience Prairie Acre. We believe that the multiuse area should be an

inviting place where KU students can gather for a lecture outside, elementary school students can

have a class field trip, or just a spot to hang out

and relax. The multiuse area will be located about

15 yards to the northeast of the prairie plot aligned

with the existing corner limestone wall. Making an

arc from the 90 degree wall, a lectern that will also

function as an information sign detailing the

prairie renovation itself should be installed.

Radiating out from the lectern in three arcs,

benches will be placed for general seating purposes as illustrated in Figure 5. The benches

measure 11’ in the closest to the lectern, 4’ benches in the middle arc, and 5’ benches in the arc

furthest from the lectern. Ideally, some sort of reclaimed or recycled wood or tree trunks should

be used to form these benches; however, due to budget concerns we have provided some lower

cost mass-produced alternatives (see Appendix A). We believe our design can meet the general

needs of the public and the University of Kansas for providing a public gathering space adjacent

to Prairie Area.

ADA and Walkways. An additional focus for Phase II of this project is the overall aesthetics of

Prairie Acre to make Prairie Acre more aesthetically pleasing, promote visitation and evoke

curiosity.

Figure 5- Seating layout in multi-use area (Billy Tope- 2016)

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The first step is to increase the handicap accessibility to Prairie Acre. At present, there is only

one handicap access point that is further up on Sunflower Road. In order to create more handicap

access points we need to fix the current sidewalks to make sure they conform to ADA rules and

regulations. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a “60-inch minimum width can

accommodate turns and passing space and is recommended for sidewalks adjacent to curbs in

order to provide travel width away from the drop-off at street edge; a 48-inch width can

accommodate side-by-side travel with a service animal (Accessible Sidewalks and Street

Crossings, 2016).” After retrofitting the old sidewalks, we then need to focus on inputting the

new sidewalks. When designing the new sidewalks, we need to keep in mind the grade, slope,

elevation, and curb ramps. Curb ramps are required for sidewalks that lead directly into the

roadway. We will need one curb ramp for the sidewalk that will lead off of Sunnyside Avenue.

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, “The running slope of a new curb ramp should

not exceed 1 in 12 (8.33%) (Accessible Sidewalks and Street Crossings, 2016).” Also, the cross

slope should be limited to 1:48 (2%). Other guidelines include the transition from curb-ramp to

gutter should be flush and lips are not permitted. The gutter counter slope in the line of travel

should not exceed (5%) and should connect smoothly with other elements of the pedestrian

network. In addition, the ADA states that, “The boundary between the sidewalk and street should

be detectable underfoot, a 24 inch strip of truncated dome material should be provided the full

width of the ramp or other uncurbed connection to the crosswalk.” Truncated domes are

important because they help prevent pedestrians from inadvertently entering the roadway by

giving a tactile warning of the sidewalk’s end. As for the grade of the sidewalk, design

parameters suggest that grades should not exceed 5 percent, however, with a permit, the

maximum grade that can be achieved is 8.3 percent for 30 ft. before a level landing must be

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installed. As for the slope of the sidewalk, ADA Accessibility Guidelines state the maximum

cross slope allowed is 2 percent; severe cross slopes would require pedestrians to work against

gravity to maintain their balance that could possibly result in bodily harm (Accessible Sidewalks

and Street Crossings, 2016).

For the final component of phase II, we want to focus on transforming the “cowpath” into

a more refined and resilient pedestrian walkway. Concrete pavers are a great choice for a

pathway because of their versatility, cost, maintenance, strength, and resistance to weather.

Paver stone walkways are an excellent choice because they offer many choices in size, shape,

and color, which may be determined by the KU Facilities department for ease of maintenance. In

addition, the cost of repairing concrete pavers is inexpensive because each individual paver stone

can be replaced should it become damaged while undamaged pavers remain in place. Like all

forms of concrete, pavers expand and contract with changes in temperature, but do not crack like

slabs of concrete (Brown). Routine maintenance of pavers is relatively minimal and deicing

agents are not required during snowy weather. Facilities staff can also shovel or plow snow

without worrying about damaging the pavers.

Our second option is gravel, which comes in a variety of materials and grades. The best

use for gravel is on pathways that have light to moderate foot traffic (Planning a Backyard Path:

Gravel Paths). With proper maintenance, the integrity of the gravel-surfaced pathway will be

relatively resilient and provide a refined appearance versus the unfinished “cowpath” present

today. Maintenance requirements will include monthly weeding and the addition of more gravel

as the surface material subsides into the soil beneath. Finally, it is highly recommended to

include a border when using gravel because it will help constrain the gravel to one area.

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Perimeter Rock Wall. The next part we want to focus on is transforming the crumbling rock

border around Prairie Acre. According to University of Kansas Department of History Professors

Dr. Mark Hersey and Dr. Robb Campbell, by the end of the 1940s, KU erected a small stonewall

around Prairie Acre (Hersey and Robb, 2016). The stone wall was created for two reasons; to

clearly demarcate the boundaries of Prairie Acre and to ensure its preservation for future

generations. Modifying the stone wall is a concern regarding the historical value and will require

future research into

determining if the need to

be maintained ‘as-is’ or if

modification is

permissible. Therefore, we

propose reusing the

current material and

building a wall alongside

the perimeter of the

existing sidewalks, in order to limit material and labor costs. If there is no opposition to replacing

the stone wall, we have two proposals. The first proposal is to remove the wall entirely and

expand the natural prairie grasses to the edge of the sidewalk surrounding the existing prairie

plot (Figure 6). The dry-stone material from the wall may be recycled for other masonry projects

involved with the Prairie Acre renovation should the desire arise, such as forming a perimeter

barrier around the demonstration garden. Further investigation into the labor costs for the rock

removal will require a price quote from Facilities Services or a third-party contractor. Our

second proposal is a modification of the dry-stone wall should there be public or administrative

Figure 6- Dry stone wall proposal 2 (Robert Marshall/Google Earth). The yellow line marks the proposed location of the stone wall.

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interest in retaining the perimeter wall. Using existing limestone material, we wish to form a low

border wall similar to its current form along the southern edge of the sidewalk to the north of

Prairie Acre and leaving the southern edge of the prairie plot without a wall. We believe this

proposal to be a fair compromise to keep the dry-stone wall present while creating an

uninterrupted native prairie tract to improve Prairie Acre’s visual appearance.

PHASE III

Across Sunnyside Avenue just south of Prairie Acre is a large triangular plot of land

owned by the University. At present, this triangle has well-established Bermuda grass and is kept

neatly mowed by the University staff.

However, given the area’s proximity to Prairie

Acre, size, and current aesthetically

unappealing appearance, there is great

potential for a future expansion of the Prairie

Acre complex (Brandenburgh et al. 17). With

an area of almost 55,000 ft2 (~1.25 acres), the

triangle is likely not a viable option for a full

prairie restoration given the limited resources

of the Prairie Acre restoration project. Cost of

prairie plants along with the amount of labor required to prepare the plot for planting make a full

restoration prohibitively expensive (Steinauer et al. 19). Furthermore, the presence of road signs,

fire hydrants, and sidewalks along the perimeter of the triangle preclude the conversion of the

entire plot, as visibility and access to these structures must be preserved. Therefore, current

Figure 7- Indiana Street Triangle (Google Earth- 2016)

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infrastructure somewhat limits new designs for the triangle. Still, the possibilities for this area are

endless although this report proposes two options, which could be implemented separately or in

tandem and would serve to boost the aesthetic appeal of the area and facilitate visits to Prairie

Acre.

Option 1- Sunflower/Prairie Grass patch. The first of these options is to plant a patch of tall

native sunflowers interspersed with a mix of short to medium height prairie grasses. The desired

aesthetic of this replant is that of a field of sunflowers, a native plant that is Kansas’ state flower

and strongly tied to the image of the state as a whole. Not only would a patch of sunflowers on

the triangle be aesthetically pleasing in its own right, but it would also help create a more

cohesive sense of native landscape in the area. Native sunflowers are also an excellent food

source for pollinators and would greatly benefit pollinator communities in the

area. Furthermore, while a complete prairie restoration would involve the purchase or collection

of a multitude of prairie plant species, a field of sunflowers and native grasses would be far less

expensive to establish.

Based on the acreage of the Triangle and the fact that a mowed perimeter must be

maintained, the planted section need not be much larger than one acre (Figure 7). This single

acre will still require a significant amount of seed, but the majority of this seed could be

collected by hand without too much difficulty (Steinauer et al. 25). The site could be planted in

annual Peredovik sunflowers (Helianthus annuus); however, we believe that native perennial

sunflowers would be a better choice. Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximilianii), sawtooth

sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus), and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) are

several examples of native perennial sunflowers though availability of seeds will dictate which

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species are eventually planted (Steinauer et al. 51). While perennial sunflowers are to be the

primary species planted, some prairie grasses should be included to enhance biodiversity

(Schramm 3). The seed mix could be heavily skewed in favor of the sunflowers and include as

little as one pound of grass seed per acre with the rest being composed of sunflower seed. A

variety of grasses would be suitable for this purpose, although little bluestem (Schizachyrium

scoparium) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) are unlikely to outcompete the

sunflowers and would be ideal candidates (Schramm 3).

Before the Triangle could be planted with perennial sunflowers and native grasses, the

currently established Bermuda grass would have to be removed. Bermuda grass is tenacious,

highly competitive, and difficult to control (Cudney et al.). Fortunately, there are several

management strategies, which could be used to remove the Bermuda grass and create a clear soil

surface. Glyphosate herbicides like Roundup have proven effective though only with repeated

applications over a 10-12 week period (Common Bermuda grass). These herbicides are non-

selective and great care would have be taken when spraying to prevent the accidental kill of

nearby plants in Prairie Acre. Mulching is a second method, which could be used to remove the

Bermuda grass. By completely covering the Triangle with black plastic mulch or other opaque

material for 6-8 weeks during the summer, the Bermuda grass could be effectively starved of

sunlight and killed (Cudney et al.). Once the Bermuda grass was removed, the Triangle could

easily be replanted by hand broadcasting the seed mix (Steinauer et al. 55). If available,

volunteer help could expedite the replant.

While the relatively low projected cost and ease of implementation make replanting the

triangle with sunflowers an attractive option, it is also likely to be acceptable to the neighbors

and nearby community residents whereas a more drastic redesign might not. The triangle is

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wholly located on university property; however, before proceeding with any plans, it would be

necessary to consult nearby residents and find their opinion. Plans for the triangle remain

indefinite and are not likely to be implemented for some time; therefore, such surveys have not

been undertaken.

Option 2. A second, far more expensive and ambitious option is to expand Sunflower Road,

cutting into the southwestern face of the Triangle in order to create an area for long-term bus

parking. Presently, there is no convenient place that buses can offload passengers, an obstacle

which could prevent a newly restored

Prairie Acre from being used to its full

potential. While technically, the triangle

and adjacent portion of Sunflower Road are

on University property, the University

complies with city regulations in cases of

new road construction (Project

Management Manual 47). From a policy

perspective, coordinating with the city and

university on the matter of creating a

parking area on Sunflower Road would be

difficult. Building new roads is also extremely expensive and unless the University could be

shown that the project was necessary and would better allow for access to campus in alignment

with the Campus Master Plan, funding would be difficult to acquire (Campus Master Plan 93).

Creating a bus-parking area in the triangle could potentially be too expensive of an undertaking;

Figure 8- Indiana Street Triangle proposals(Billy Tope- 2016). The shaded yellow area is bus parking while the green represents the area which could be planted in a mixture of native sunflowers and grasses.

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however, even if funding were secured, the permitting, design, and construction process would

likely take several years.

According to the University of Kansas’ agreement with the City of Lawrence, all

development projects that “substantially increase vehicle and pedestrian traffic…require traffic

impact analysis (Cooperation Agreement 6).” Following this study and other studies regarding

the feasibility of the project, all of which are administered by the University or its contractors,

sources of funding would have to be found either from a state or non-state source. Once

feasibility has been determined and funding secured, Design and Construction Management

(DCM) determines the process of design and construction (Project Management Manual 13).

Every step of this process takes time and the potential for roadblocks or even scrapping of the

entire project is enormous. So while a bus-parking area built into the triangle could potentially

increase visitation to Prairie Acre, such a project lies far in the future and poses significant

challenges. It is the recommendation of this report that investigations into the need for such a

project be further researched and suitable alternatives explored in the future.

CONCLUSION

The Future Site Design group believes our plan will rehabilitate a landscape that has

experienced long-term neglect and facilitate public interest by providing increased educational

value, aesthetic appeal, and accessibility to Prairie Acre. The group has generated ideas to

promote the education of native prairies by proposing the creation of a demonstration garden to

allow visitors to gain general knowledge of prairies in Kansas. The site design group believes

that an outdoor multipurpose area with seating will provide an excellent venue for visitors, KU

students, and school-aged students of all ages to be a part of the prairie landscape. The group has

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also proposed some aesthetically pleasing ideas to make prairie acre more enjoyable and

welcoming by proposing the southern triangle to be planted to native sunflowers and native

grasses. Finally, the Future Site Design group has also proposed to make the Prairie Acre more

accessible to visitors through the creation of handicap accessible sidewalks as well as a proposed

bus lane to allow for visiting schools to drop off students at Prairie Acre. These design ideas we

are proposing embodies the ‘cultural landscape’ that composes the identity of Prairie Acre and

will ensure the long-term health of the native landscape while establishing a sense of community.

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Management. University of Kansas. April 2012. Web. 9 April 2016. Schramm, Peter. “Prairie Restoration: A Twenty-Five Year Perspective on Establishment and

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Appendices Appendix A …...Tables and Figures Appendix B…… Key Terms and vocabulary

APPENDIX A: TABLES AND FIGURES Demonstration Garden Model

Source: Prairie Acre base CAD file, KU Design & Construction Management. CAD illustration modified by Billy Tope, EVRN 615 Capstone Future Design Group. This image represents a mock design model for the demonstration garden.

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Example bench cost estimates and dimensions Price Store Dimensions Benches

$94.99 Wayfair 30.5” H x 46.5” W x 20” D

$971 Barco Products

29.5” H x 24”W x 72” L

$540 Barco Products 31.25” H x 19.5” W x 72” L

$155.99 Wayfair 18” H x 55” W x 14.25”

Cost estimates for paving cowpath

Material Price Concrete $5.87/ft2 (4 inches thick)

Impervious $3-10 (varies dependent on type and square footage)

Gravel ¾” crushed stone- $26/ft3

1 ½”- $23/ft3 riprap- $25/ft3

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Campus Heritage Plan Map

Source: “Campus Heritage Plan.” University of Kansas Office of Design and Construction Management. University of Kansas. March 2008. Web. 9 April 2016. This map provides an overview of Prairie Acre in relation to the rest of campus.

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CAD drawing of Future Site Design Proposal

Source: Prairie Acre base CAD file, KU Design & Construction Management. CAD illustration modified by Billy Tope, EVRN 615 Capstone Future Design Group. This image summarizes the changes proposed by the Future Site Design group.

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APPENDIX B: KEY TERMS ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): Signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is a comprehensive piece of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life -- to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and service. Cowpath: East-West pedestrian pathway with no finished/improved surface connecting sidewalks originating from the intersection of Sunnyside Ave & Louisiana Street with the Vehicle access driveway behind Watson Library and Twente Hall. Dry-stone wall: Low height masonry perimeter wall surrounding the existing Prairie Acre plot. It is considered ‘dry-stone’ due to not utilizing mortar in its construction. KU Native Medicinal Plant Garden: Research garden that consists of native plants in a complete demonstration garden. NRHP: National Register of Historic Places is an inventory of nationwide landmarks valued in terms of their age, integrity, and historical significance. Operated by the National Park Service which is under the Department of Interior.