The future look of UWEC’s Garfield Avenue corridor

If you’re a tree-hugging type who frequents the UW-Eau Claire campus, we’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news: Now through Jan. 20, the university plans to cut down about 70 trees to prepare for a redevelopment project along Garfield Avenue on UWEC’s lower campus. (Another 24 or so trees will be axed next December and January.) The good news: Once all the improvements are completed in 2018, the university plans to plant about 213 trees (though they’ll be a little too small to hug for a while). The tree removals are part of a $12.4 million redevelopment project that will largely focus on underground utilities that run beneath Garfield Avenue from the base of UWEC’s big hill to Park Avenue. We’re talking about critical outdated water, sewer, storm water, natural gas, power, chilled water, and steam lines. In addition to all that hidden (but vital) infrastructure, UWEC also plans to, among other things, convert Garfield Avenue into a bicycle and pedestrian thoroughfare, create an outdoor classroom at the current Putnam parking lot, and to build a scenic overlook and a small amphitheater along the Chippewa River. To learn more about the transformation, visit www.uwec.edu/facprojects/garfield.htm.