Uni’s environmental science teacher, Christian Millán-Hernandez and his team of passionate students in the Ecological Restoration Coalition are planning something big for the long under-appreciated Green Space of Uni High.
Tables fill quickly and space goes unused, but the ERC Gardening Workshop plans to create a beautiful, environmentally friendly space for students to sit, study, and enjoy the fresh air.
Millán describes the goal for the club as “forming a group of students who are interested in changing what the Green Space looks like.” Additionally, the Uni Prairie Garden Project will expand and improve the existing butterfly garden located on the west end of the parking lot next to Uni Gym. The team plans to add mulch, native plants, and eventually seating for this new and improved garden. A large portion of the work will be done by Uni High students, planting and maintaining the garden throughout the year.
In Uni art teacher Lisa Evans’ previous Design Thinking class, students collected data from an anonymous form, and the ERC used this data to brainstorm ideas. He stated that students requested a space with more trees and a garden. Along with trees and other native plants, Millán also mentioned the idea of including native fruit plants, such as American plums and persimmons. Other plants include raspberries, and grapes, which students would be able to maintain and harvest.
No improvement comes without challenges, though, and funds are hard to come by. If the entire Uni Green Space were to be redone, the estimated cost would be around $50,000 to $80,000. Getting this money would take a very long time and delay the project for years. So, Millán plans to reconstruct the Green Space in phases, starting with expanding the butterfly garden, which would instead cost around $3,000. His top priority in the project right now is to apply for grants through programs like the Illinois Green Fund and other student organizations.
Even with overwhelming support for these changes, the Green Space is a beloved playing field for students looking to compete and exercise. They are well aware of these students and understand that changing the area between Uni Gym and the benches is up for debate. It depends on whether you like soccer, four square, or other things. But there was a consensus that they wanted more gardens and more trees, and that’s something Millán has always liked to do, so the primary plan for him is to renovate the garden.
If you would like to help, the ERC Gardening Workshop meets every Thursday during Uni Period in room 106N and on Friday lunch in room 302. The Green Space is a big area for plants, so he needs more hands!
