West Drumlin Deck History

Prior 1981: Over the west hill students and faculty were parking in gravel parking lots without easy access to the University Center. The most direct path to the University Center was a gravel and dirt hill.

Fall 1981: UC Director Steve Summers takes suggestions from employees and students regarding solution to safety concerns while travelling from the parking lot to the UC and incorporating the serenity of the Drumlin.

Spring 1982: Undergraduate student, John Kurchowski, who worked as an LTE for General Services (now FP&M) designed the boardwalk and west deck, incorporating a tree as its centerpiece.

Summer 1982: Construction of a deck and wooden walkway from the parking lot to the UC began. All the postholes for the deck were dug by hand because the needed equipment would not fit in the tight location without damaging the trees.

Fall 1982: The deck and walkway were open for the public to enjoy, creating a pleasant space to spend time and a much safer route to the UC.

Summer 1999: Wooden boardwalk was replaced with concrete walkway and steps to continue the campus master plan, leading from newer paved parking lots, over the west hill to the UC.

Fall 2009: The deck is condemned due to surface boards caving in.

Spring 2010: The Center for Students with Disabilities, Facilities Planning & Management and the University Center began discussions to work towards a redesign for a new deck.