129. Existing Condition 130. Improvement Concept 131. Water Tower and Perimeter Planting

25   WEST CAMPUS: JOHN ORR TOWER AND WATER TOWER The plantings in front of John Orr Tower and at the base of the Water Tower should be pruned and opened up to improve image, views and safety. Priority rating: 2 The planting at the base of John Orr Tower is approximately twenty five years old. They include many Norway Maples, a few Birch, Silver Maples, Austrian Pine and Scot's Pines. The entrance area is over planted and the Birch are in poor condition. They should be removed and the remainder heavily pruned to improve visibility, image and safety. The vegetation in the area of the Water Tower is of poor quality, predominantly self seeding species. A simple lawn meeting the base of the Tower would provide a clean image that is also easy to maintain. The parking lots south of the Water Tower are planted with perimeter shade trees and island plantings. The Maples are in fair condition. The main road through the campus is lined with Ash, Sugar and Silver Maple, also in fair condition. This is the only area on the west campus with formal street tree planting. Street tree planting should be completed along the main road and around the perimeter of the parking lots. At the penitentiary farmhouse used by the Faculty of Education, the trees are all in poor condition, including Norway Maple, Manitoba Maple and Ash. The Blue Spruce specimen on the east side should be retained. This heritage stone building has a residential scale and should be landscaped to enhance its character. Views to Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard should be improved, but with some screening for privacy and safety of the users. Species recommendation Shade tree    Acer saccharum, Sugar Maple    Ginkgo biloba, Maidenhair Tree    Quercus sp., Oak species (Red, English) Ornamental tree    Amelanchier canadensis, Serviceberry    Betula papyrifera, Paper Birch    Fagus sp., Beech cultivars    Syringa sp., Lilac    Viburnum sp., Viburnum    Abies concolor, Silver Fir    Picea sp., Spruce species (Norway, Colorado)    Pinus strobus, White Pine