Marian Cruger Coffin designed the 1919 General Plan for Layout of Delaware College at Newark, Delaware. Landscape architect of the University of Delaware from 1918-1952, Coffin's plan called for dramatic changes in the landscaping of the campus. One of the main elements of her plan was to design a central recreation area between the men's and women's campuses. The centerpiece of the recreation area was to be an oval garden that would draw attention away from the bend in the axis between the men's and women's campuses at the University of Delaware. The oval garden is now the circular paved patio in front of Morris Library.

Unfortunately, as a result of the Great Depression and the growth of the campus, many of the elements of Coffin's plan were never fully realized; however, recent building projects at the University have generated renewed interest. For more information regarding these projects, read UD Landscaping to Return to its Historic Roots.