Grounds team goes above and beyond for move-in prep 

Many Student Affairs departments start preparing for move-in during the spring semester. There is a lot of work that goes into making sure our students and families feel welcome and comfortable on campus. The Grounds team in Housing and Facilities Services is a big part of these efforts, and goes above and beyond when it comes to preparing for move-in and Fall Welcome.  

The Grounds team consists of 24 staff members. Three staff members are assigned to Williams Village and take care of general landscaping. A specialized turf and irrigation team is responsible for turf management specifically. There is also a horticulture crew and a crew that cares for plants and trees. Preparation for move-in begins as soon as growing season starts in March. The turf is cared for in a particular way which involves organic practices for fertilizing, irrigation, cutting and mulching to ensure healthy grass with strong roots. No pesticides have been used on campus grounds for the past 12 years. The Grounds team strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible with the work they do, focusing on sustainable practices to conserve water, improve soil health and maintain weeds to achieve high-level results. 

The Grounds team strives for a healthy and neat appearance year-round, with their schedule set to ensure the grounds look their best at move-in. This involves spreading new mulch, mowing, eliminating weeds, pruning and trimming, and removing dead plant material and downed branches. They treat and trim trees as well. The Kittredge ponds underwent a new treatment regimen over the past winter and early spring which helped eliminate algae. They regularly clean the sidewalks and debris off the surface of the ponds.  

“I am proud of this group and the work they do to keep CU Boulder looking like the preeminent research university that it is,” said Jack Bradford, associate director of Housing Facilities Services. 

Darren Willett, turf and irrigation manager in Housing Facilities Services, has a tradition he has done for the past 10 years at Williams Village. Each year, Darren comes in on the weekend before move-in to do a special cut and “stripe” the field, as you might see on a golf course fairway or top-tier athletic field.  Darren is training his staff to carry on that tradition 

“My turf and irrigation team, along with Francisco Gutierrez and his team in Will Vill, are why that area looks excellent day in and day out,” said Darren. “This level at Will Vill is our ultimate goal everywhere.”  

Boulder is often called one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, and the coordinated efforts of our Grounds team contribute to our reputation.