by Dear G&G Friends,
We have made the transition from Dream to Reality for the Texas A&M Gardens & Greenway! Professional designs are in process and construction will begin soon.
In the past eight months, over $6 million have been generously committed to the Gardens & Greenway by the University and private donors. A huge thank you to those of you who have donated thus far!
Through University funds, a project to stabilize White Creek, place bridges and layout temporary trails has begun. Stanley Consultants is completing the design and construction drawings this month. Construction contractors will be interviewed and selected soon. Construction will begin by February and completion is scheduled for August 15, 2015 in conjunction with the opening of the 1,200-bed West Campus student housing project. White Creek will become a more vibrant riparian way and thousands of Aggies will enjoy crossing the bridges and traversing this natural landscape on the way to class.
Donor funding has allowed the Gardens & Greenway to advance the master plan to a more detailed schematic design for the entire property. In addition, we will complete final design and then construct the Teaching Gardens Complex, a 3-acre outdoor living laboratory to teach Aggie and K-12 students about agriculture and the natural environment.
The design team leading this effort includes prime consultant, Mark Wellen of Rhottenberry and Wellen Architects (Midland), and prime landscape architect, Jim Patterson ’78 of White Oak Studio (Houston). These firms bring an outstanding body of work and their design will reflect the unique character of Texas and Aggieland. Construction of the Teaching Gardens Complex will begin in winter 2015. By late 2016, the Teaching Gardens Complex will become the first feature of A&M’s new backyard.
There is much more to do for the Gardens & Greenway to become a premier teaching center and the most beloved outdoor space in Aggieland. Funding is needed to build a rose garden, children’s garden, wildflower meadows, grassland prairies, and to recreate The Grove.
For information regarding naming opportunities within the Gardens & Greenway and other levels of giving, please contact Steve Blomstedt at (979) 845-9582 or [email protected] .
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and happy gardening!
Douglas F. Welsh ‘79, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus and Project Coordinator
Texas A&M Gardens and Greenway
