When Delta State University students, faculty, and staff return in January from the holiday break, they may notice a change in the appearance of Delta State’s quadrangle. During the break, the Department of Facilities Management will embark on a campus enhancement project that will include the removal of damaged oak trees that pose a possible safety hazard.
Funding for the enhancement project which includes replacement of the trees and other landscape improvements is provided through a $15,000 grant from the Mississippi Transportation Enhancement Tree Planting Program.
The Delta State “Quad” is the highly visible, major entrance to the University from Highway 8. Several historically significant buildings face the Quad, but one of the most recognizable and significant features of the Delta State campus has been the magnificent heritage oak trees that surround it. The original oaks were planted in 1926. Unfortunately, the large heritage oaks were ravaged by the ice storm of 1994, and many had to be removed after the storm or in subsequent years due to the damage. Some of the original oaks that remain have continued to decline in structural stability and must be removed.
“Since 1994, we have replaced some of the heritage trees with new oak trees,” said Linda A. Smith, Delta State’s landscape architect. “The grant will provide the resources needed to fill in the spaces on the Quad with a collection of native Mississippi oaks appropriate for the Delta, which will restore the visual and architectural aesthetics of the Quad and preserve a significant part of the identity of Delta State.”
Tree replacement will begin in early January with approximately 30 new oaks of various species to be planted. The new trees will range from 12 to 15 feet tall and will be part of a developing landscape master plan designed to create a campus arboretum and gardens of horticultural significance. The oaks will be a significant tree collection for Delta State and will provide educational resources for the University and the community.
“We envision a campus arboretum and botanical gardens for research, testing, and display of trees and ornamental plant materials appropriate for north Mississippi as well as demonstration gardens to enhance forestry, botanical, and horticultural awareness within the community,” added Smith.
