As the University of North Florida continues construction on new soccer practice fields, Ogier Gardens staff members say the work encroaches on their space and could jeopardize the garden’s plant life.
Ogier Gardens is a student-maintained community garden located next to Lot 18. The space hosts events such as workshops and tours for students. It also serves the campus population by donating produce to the Lend-a-Wing food pantry, according to UNF.
Christopher Wainwright, UNF’s director of campus planning, design and construction, previously told Spinnaker that construction would not affect the existing gardens. However, garden staff members reached out to the Spinnaker claiming otherwise.
Staff dispute claims on construction impact
Amellya Clifford, a public relations major at UNF and a staff member at Ogier Gardens, has worked at the garden for three years.
When construction crews cut down trees to build the soccer fields, it removed the garden’s natural shade and caused plants to suffer sun scorch, Clifford said.
“When it first started, we thought there would be less deforestation than what actually occurred,” Clifford said. “We’re already seeing issues with the plants and their exposure to the sun.”
Charlie Hendra, a senior biology major who also works at the Gardens, said plants are already being affected by construction. shared similar concerns.
“Plants that we’ve grown for years are suddenly finding it too hot,” Hendra said.
Rachel Bacchus
As UNF continues to construct new soccer fields near Ogier Gardens, Ogier Gardens Staff Member Randolph Olwfus worries that the new fields may lead to chemical runoff into the garden.
Randolph Olwfus, another staff member, said the university did not provide sufficient warning before construction began.
“I get that the construction workers are just doing their jobs and aren’t in control of this, but it’s a major inconvenience for us right now,” Olwfus said.
Olwfus also said that he worries the chemicals used to maintain the soccer fields could threaten crops and plants in the garden.
According to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, maintaining athletic fields in Florida often requires a comprehensive integrated pest management plan to mitigate the risks of chemical runoff, as frequent pesticide and fertilizer applications are common to combat the state’s specific weed, disease, and insect presence.
Clifford also said that construction for the soccer fields reduced space for events and hindered student access. Olwfus shared a recent example of how the narrowed space affected operations.
“There was a track and field event a few weeks ago, and it was so congested,” Olwfus said. “It was difficult for us to get in and out of the garden when we had to go back to RecWell for different tasks.”
“On one end you had construction workers, and on the other, you had the people there for the soccer event,” Clifford added. “That heavily affected our ability to move forward with day-to-day tasks.”
Ash Stallworth, a sophomore who has worked at Ogier Gardens for three months, said deforestation may also harm the wildlife near Ogier Gardens.
“We have bees at the garden, and while we grow flowers there, they also rely on the forest,” Stallworth said. “With less forest, there are fewer nutrients overall and less wildlife.”
Disposing of harmful weeds from the gardens has also become an issue, Stallworth said.
“We used to throw them into the woods to decompose naturally. Now, we have to use RecWell’s dumpster in the back,” Stallworth said. “It’s less convenient because we have to haul everything over there.”
Stallworth also said the fence surrounding the construction site created safety concerns for drivers.
“There’s a road we take to the garden, and when we leave, there is a dangerous blind spot,” Stallworth said. “You have to pull into the road just to see if cars are coming. If a car is speeding or the driver isn’t paying attention, it could be really dangerous.”
With soccer field construction still underway, Ogier Gardens staff members said they are concerned about how construction and campus deforestation will affect the gardens in the long term.
“It’s Florida. It’s gonna get hot; things are gonna die,” Clifford said.
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