HELENA – Beginning this week, Carroll College is undertaking a landscape enhancement initiative, set to transform the southwest corner of campus into a welcoming gateway from Carroll College to the community, while also providing an attractive entrance to the city from the westside of town. The project aims to create an inviting landscape with plentiful green space to provide a visually attractive introduction to Carroll College as well as provide shared space for both Carroll students and community members to enjoy the campus.
The plot of land, situated between Benton Avenue on the west and Lyndale Avenue on the south, currently comprises vacant houses and structures, which most recently served as training venues for the Helena Fire Department. Recognizing the potential of this area, college administrators and the Carroll Board of Trustees decided to begin efforts to revitalize this corner of campus into an attractive, park-like space until further plans are developed through the framework and procedures of the college's Campus Master Planning and Strategic Planning processes.
Carroll President Dr. John Cech expressed his enthusiasm for the transformative nature of this project, stating, "We are excited about the positive changes that this improvement will bring. This area will serve as the main gateway to which visitors and residents alike will view Carroll College when traveling from the west side of Helena. It not only physically connects Carroll to the community but also offers a visually appealing sight line to Carroll’s most prominent building on campus – St. Charles Hall.”
It is important to Carroll to continue to acknowledge those represented at Founders Corner. As part of this commitment, plans are underway to appropriately recognize, in a new campus location, the donors who had been honored at Founders Corner. Carroll’s Office of Institutional Advancement is discussing the most appropriate campus location to provide commensurate recognition given the planned campus improvements. In addition, the time capsules are being relocated to a more climate-resistant location.
The demolition of the houses and structures is expected to last approximately a week and the remainder of the landscaping work including grading, irrigation, planting, sod, and new signage is scheduled to be completed by mid to late August.
In addition to the southwest corner enhancement project, Carroll College is actively engaged in various other infrastructure improvements across its campus. These ongoing projects are designed to enhance the services and amenities provided to Carroll’s students. Through the generosity of charitable contributions made to the college, notable upgrades include a comprehensive remodel of the dining hall in the Campus Center and a major renovation to the upper level of the Corette Library and Simperman Learning Commons.