Landscape Management

Landscape Management Team


UI-02-160520-026_sizeThe landscape management team presents a beautiful, safe and accessible exterior environment to the campus community throughout the year. As part of the landscape management team's duties, we provide efficient, cost-effective stewardship of natural and built campus assets.

Our services include:
+ Sustainable Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance
+ Project Staging and Restoration
+ Outdoor Waste and Recycling Collection
+ Site Furnishings
+ Support for Donor Trees and Endowed Landscapes
+ Support for the university's continued certification of Tree Campus USA and Bee Campus USA

Grounds & Landscape Services

The Grounds department is responsible for providing detailed care for 930 acres of the campus's landscape throughout the year. Additionally, they care for the more than 16,000 trees on campus. During the winter they manage snow and ice on over 90 miles of sidewalks and 10 miles of bike paths. The department currently has 47 positions which include a superintendent, a foreman, four sub-foremen, two tree surgeons, a grounds equipment mechanic and 38 grounds workers with including two dedicated to full-time trash removal. The campus is divided into four grounds maintenance zones, with one sub-foreman in each zone.

Campus Landscape Architecture

The University Landscape Architect oversees site development on the main campus and auxiliaries, including the Allerton Park & Retreat Center. All changes to the fabric of campus support the mission of our institution, balancing the needs of aesthetics for staff and students, attracting prospective students and donors, education uses, and sustainability.

Grounds - Seasonal Services

Landscape Services/Grounds Service Levels

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign service level definition

 APPA Attention Levels are used as a basis for Grounds department service levels.

Service Levels:

Service Level designations are evaluated regularly to reflect changes in the campus and reductions or increases in the landscape maintenance budget.

Drought Policy

State of Illinois map - showing how the drought counties are identifedThe Grounds department uses the drought intensity scale from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Illinois drought monitor map to determine when local conditions meet specific criteria.

During these periods, turf management, water irrigation, and flower, tree, and plant care on the Urbana campus will occur based on the steps outlined in the Grounds Drought Policy. The following plans will be implemented when local conditions meet the listed drought intensities.