During winter, staff in the Landscaping & Grounds Department work to keep the Case Western Reserve University community safe from the hazards of snow and ice.
Winter poses unique challenges for the team, according to Grounds Supervisor Daryl Costanzo. He cites maintaining the sidewalks, steps, driveways and parking lots when a storm hits during rush hour and staggering the team’s hours to keep up with a storm among the greatest difficulties.
But the team of 23 must tend to 230 acres throughout the year—with the challenges of winter weather being just one of their many tasks. The team also maintains turf, irrigation and campus fountain operations, removes fallen trees, debris, and litter, and beautifies campus by managing the landscaping during all four seasons.
But even after the cold weather has passed, the team still faces one more challenge: Making campus picture-perfect for commencement weekend.
With spring just a few weeks away, the team will transition their work from plowing snow and salting sidewalks to mowing grass and mulching gardens, as their final task of the school year nears: making campus picture-perfect for commencement weekend.