On a crisp January afternoon, presidential fellow Amelia Peters (‘28) sat down with the class of ENLS 103 to discuss the Bucknell Greenway project. Although only in her second semester, wise beyond her years, she engaged the class in a brief presentation followed by a Q&A to discuss her involvement; “I want to do something with sustainability and environmental practices in management so I liked this project because of the community building aspects of things.”
The project, which has already been underway for some time now, has an aim to preserve natural areas surrounding the Bucknell campus and Lewisburg area that might otherwise have been turned into industrial sites. The Greenway will consist of an approximately three-mile path snaking around the campus, along with a number of specialized areas dedicated to conservation.
Each stop will have a different feature, such as a public art station, a historical plaque, or a conservation garden. Some have already been implemented, such as the butterfly garden that lies behind the senior apartments. However, other spots are preexisting— such as areas that will highlight Bucknell’s natural beauty.
The project also brings historical conservation into question as well, as it reckons with the university’s involvement in the Civil War. One of the preexisting areas will be the remnants of an old barn that was previously used by the university president to house fugitive formerly enslaved persons. Another, shortly down the road, is the town’s revered Civil War monument, highlighting the lives lost of those who fought valiantly for the Union army.
However, Ms. Peters expresses interest first and foremost with the student efforts that will help shape the project. “The signage and the tree planting and the garden is going to be done by students,” she said, “so it’ll be a student focused project.” This marks an exciting opportunity where Bucknell students can help to directly contribute to the conservation efforts of the campus. Interested parties need not wait long for an influx of gardening opportunities and tree planting, as Greenway project efforts continue to advance.
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