Pitt spruces up for Arrival Survival

Kathy Trent dreams in green.

‘I’m a flower person. I love them all. I obsess about it. In… Kathy Trent dreams in green.

‘I’m a flower person. I love them all. I obsess about it. In the winter, I read garden catalogs, planning for spring. I’m in the right job,’ said Trent.

Trent is Pitt’s newly promoted grounds manager, and she’s responsible for creating the 35-acre urban oasis that is Pitt.

Lately, however, she’s been especially busy primping the campus for Arrival Survival, Pitt’s program to welcome new students.

‘ ‘There are two times a year when we really need to look good, and that’s graduation and Arrival Survival. And we really step it up a notch trying to make the University look as good as it can,’ said Trent.

Pitt employees plant about 40,000 annual plants in Pitt’s approximately 50 flowerbeds every year. When the pansies planted for graduation burn out, grounds workers plant colorful chrysanthemums that last until fall.

Workers try to keep the begonias, chrysanthemums and other flowers in bloom until homecoming in October, which can be a real challenge on cool fall nights.

After homecoming and before the first frost, workers rip out the plants and toss them in the compost at the Brackenridge Storage Facilities. Considering cost-effectiveness and appearance, Trent said, in most cases it’s best to buy new flowers every year.

However, there are exceptions. Around the William Pitt Union, there are lots of unusual plants that are not native to the area. Palms, oleanders, cannas and hibiscus plants give the Union grounds a subtle tropical vibe. The palms and ferns are reusable and kept under plant lights throughout the winter.

‘ The Cathedral of Learning is also home to the largest hosta bed in Western Pennsylvania. Hostas are shade plants that come in hundreds of varieties, most developed by hybridization. One of the varieties is named ‘Cathedral of Learning’ in honor of Pitt, said Trent.

The Professional Grounds Management Society recognized Pitt’s outstanding landscaping and awarded Pitt one of seven Green Star honor awards for urban university grounds management in 2007. A university is only eligible for the award every three years, and the PGMS honored Pitt in 2004 as well.

In addition to tending to the gardens and lawns, Pitt’s grounds management team also salts walkways in the winter, empties trash cans outside and maintains Chancellor Mark Nordenberg’s University-owned home in Oakland.

After the winter, grounds management scratches up the grass killed by the salt, particularly around the Cathedral of Learning, Panther Hall and Pennsylvania Hall, and plants new grass seeds.

Grounds management is responsible for about 40 miles of sidewalks, more than 5,000 stairs and 300,000 square feet of parking in addition to the horticulture, said Trent. According to the PGMS Web site, the University utilizes a $1,476,325 budget to keep the campus clean, safe and attractive.

To put this figure in perspective, Pitt’s grounds management budget is smaller than all other urban universities honored by the PGMS, with the exception of Columbia University, which did not list its budget.

Trent said that in her four years working for Pitt, she has had no shortage of support.

‘The administration here is invested in making this campus look nice. They’re invested in having a pretty campus, so I get support,’ said Trent.

Bridget Bertoni, a Pitt junior, said that the University’s overall appearance was a key factor in her decision to attend Pitt.

‘It played a big role. It’s sort of a naive way to pick a college,’ she said.

Bertoni said she really likes Pitt in the summer, especially the trees around the Cathedral, because they make for premium study spots. However, she acknowledges that Pitt’s urban setting makes it difficult to compare with other colleges.

‘I think we stack up pretty damn good,’ said Trent. ‘We can’t do the stuff they [Penn State] do because we’re in the middle of the city. Pitt is like its own city.’