Pictured is a waterfall in the new Student Memorial Garden,
which will open this spring on the Kent Campus. The garden
is located behind the Kent Student Center near Manchester
Field.

(Photo provided by Brian Pickering)

A new Student Memorial Garden will open this spring to remember Kent State University students, faculty and staff who have passed away. The garden is located behind the Kent Student Center near Manchester Field. Construction on the garden began last fall but came to a stop because of the winter weather. Finishing touches to the garden will be made this spring, says Brian Pickering, project manager for the Student Memorial Garden in Kent State’s Office of the University Architect.

“This is meant to be a place where students can gather around something other than the rock on Front Campus to honor, contemplate or just remember those who have passed away,” Pickering says.

Gregg Floyd, Kent State’s senior vice president for finance and administration, and Greg Jarvie, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, both played a role in the creation of the new garden.

“We worked with student leadership to make sure that they had what they needed,” Floyd says. “The dream ultimately was helped with financing and encouragement.”

Floyd and Jarvie both believe that the new garden will be a perfect place on campus for reflection.

“It’s really important for us to recognize those who have been here at a time before us,” Jarvie says. “This is not something that only current students and staff will appreciate, but alumni and everyone else who comes through campus.”

The garden will include a waterfall flowing down into a lower pool area. A brick paved area with benches and stone seating walls will wind through the garden with lower-level lights to illuminate the path. Although there will be no specific names of students listed, a memorial plaque will be on display.

“As you become so closely knit to your fellow students while you’re in college and have a tragedy strike, the garden will just become a powerful place to remember a friend or a fellow student,” Pickering says.

The dedication of the Student Memorial Garden will take place April 28.

For more information on other projects the Office of the University Architect is working on, visit www.kent.edu/universityarchitect.