Woodland Park
Imagine an interactive garden, a forest path, an outdoor classroom, and a place to learn about permaculture and compost. All just steps away from your dorm, apartment, or home. This is Woodland Park.
Project Objective: To develop an experiential learning forest and garden just steps from the heart of campus.
Strategic Doing Project led by NMU’s Sustainability Advisory Council’s Strategy Team with the NMU Hoop House, Earth, Environmental, & Geographic Sciences Department; People, Culture, & Wellbeing; NMU Facilities; and SHINE.
Introduction
In NMU’s strategic guiding document, Our Compass, three Grand Challenges are presented to support our people, partner with our place, and realize the potential of all of our students. Embracing the Okanagan Charter and its Calls to Action, along with our commitment to honor and nurture the role of Indigenous perspectives and peoples is foundational to the Woodland Park Project. The project establishes a space to learn about sustainable food systems, explore a sensory and healing forest path, and practice care for all species.
Project Proposal
At the corner of Norwood and Niedhart avenues, adjacent to the University’s Woodland Park Apartments, on just over 20 acres of natural succession forest, Woodland Park will be a hub for students, faculty, staff, and community members. See satellite image for boundaries of the proposed space. The area could include:
- Hoop House (moved from current location)
- Compost Demonstration Site
- Indigenous Medicine Garden
- Seed Library
- Herb Spirals
- Permaculture
- Pollinator Gardens
- Outdoor Classroom
- Sensory and Healing Forest Path
- Interpretive Signs
Community Engagement
NMU is nested within a regional food desert, affecting students and community members. The hope is for Woodland Park to be a demonstration site for campus and community participation in building a local, sustainable food system. From seed to produce, to composted materials for the next year’s crop, this area will showcase a variety of resilient food growing, harvesting, and processing methods. As we continue planning, we would love to hear your input!
Email us at shine@nmu.edu
Moving Forward
This project includes many phases that will be implemented over the course of several years. Currently, work is being done to obtain funds to move the hoop house and establish the larger park area. Future phases relate to forest paths, signage, pollinator gardens, and more!