Townsend Hall East Lawn and Garden
About
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and its public-facing units, including the UD Botanic Gardens (UDBG), Cooperative Extension, and UDairy Creamery, serve as entry points to the university for community members, prospective students, and campus community members alike. The Townsend Hall Parking Lot is central to that entry point and currently stands as an uninspiring and underutilized space dividing integral components of the landscape and CANR’s facilities.
The UD Botanic Gardens and CANR are leading the charge to transform a portion of this parking lot into the Townsend East Lawn and Garden. Initially launched with support from a private foundation, this project has since gained significant backing from several generous donors and aims to create an intentional connection between the existing areas of UDBG's collections while fostering a welcoming entry point that improves wayfinding, safety, and accessibility to our campus amenities and collections.
We envision a space that gives our campus an inviting and cohesive appearance while further activating student engagement, experiential learning, and community connections. Drawing on the expertise of UDBG staff, faculty, and extension professionals, the lawn and garden will expand educational efforts to a diverse stakeholder group with programming focused on ecologically minded landscape techniques and management. We also hope these enhancements will attract prospective students and enrich curricular resources available, particularly in majors such as landscape architecture and entomology. In addition, the garden will further facilitate community events and outreach through enhanced access.
Construction is underway! Read on for more information on this project and how to support it.
More to explore
This project is part of the UD Botanic Gardens, which feature a vibrant living plant collection with more than 3,000 taxa, promoting an understanding and appreciation of plants in the environment.
Watch Now
Townsend East Lawn and Garden: New, iconic greenspace coming to University of Delaware
Link to the Youtube Video Townsend East Lawn and Garden: New, iconic greenspace coming to University of Delaware: youtube.com/watch?v=Th4SGDF9SkM
Construction Logistics Map
Due to construction, traffic patterns and parking access around Townsend Hall, UDairy Creamery, and the UD Botanic Gardens have changed. View the map and lists below for detailed information.
Grey Lot 2
Most of Grey Lot 2 behind Townsend Hall is closed. 80 parking spaces will remain available on the north side of this lot, behind the north end of Townsend Hall and behind Worrilow Hall.
There is no “thru traffic” on the west side of Grey Lot 2 from the area near Durham Garden/UDairy Creamery to the center of Townsend Hall. This area is restricted to emergency vehicles only. Vehicles cannot drive through this section, but sidewalks remain open for pedestrians.
Red Lot 1
Red Lot 1 will remain open.
Accessible parking
Accessible parking has been relocated to two areas:
• Near the north end of Grey Lot 2, behind the center of Townsend Hall
• South of UDairy Creamery, in front of Fred Rust Ice Arena
South College Avenue access road
The access road along the south side of Townsend Hall now allows right turns only. Vehicles may only turn right into Red Lot 1 in front of Fred Rust Ice Arena.
Roger Martin Lane
Roger Martin Lane remains accessible. Drivers may turn right behind the construction area to reach the open parking area at the north end of Grey Lot 2. This route passes between the UD Botanic Gardens Greenhouse/offices and the Fischer Greenhouse Lab.
Additional closures
The UDairy Creamery front plaza is closed to foot traffic. Visitors should plan to use Roger Martin Lane or Red Lot 1 for access to the Botanic Gardens and allow extra time for parking.
Project Scope
Project Renderings
Frequently asked questions
Campus community
Direct curricular support for CANR’s programs
Opportunities for relaxation between classes, outdoor gathering/class space
Education and interpretation around sustainable design practices
Public community
Encourage visitation, visitors understand how to navigate the site and which areas are accessible
Public education and events (trainings, tours, etc.) through UDBG and extension
Extension opportunities for trainings with Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists
Industry
Industry expos and reciprocal tours with area gardens/businesses
Share living collection materials with production growers
Industry use of extension resources (plant diagnostics, soil samples, general professional knowledge)
Alumni and prospective students
Showcase resources available to students: great resources attract great students
Continuing elevation of CANR’s resources reflects well on alumni in the workforce.
Fosters a deeper sense of connection with alumni coming back to campus as they have greater awareness/remembrance of the resources available.
The new area will give cues about how visitors should navigate the space, along with an explanation of the resources available.
Areas where vehicular and pedestrian traffic intersect will be amended to improve safety and accessibility.
GivING
You can support the Townsend East Lawn and Garden project with a gift of any amount. Your generosity will help bring this natural space to life and make it accessible to be enjoyed year-round by the campus and our local community. Naming opportunities are available.
For more information, please contact:
Dan Sarkissian, Associate Vice President — College & Programs, Principal Gifts & Corporate
djs@udel.edu | 302-831-4595
Submit a Comment
Comments on the Townsend East Lawn and Garden Project can be submitted using the form below or emailed directly to townsendeast@udel.edu.