Happy Friday, planet buds. Weather in Rochester today is quite damp. The hard rain turns my attention to our Grounds department and how they are truly a ‘green’ inspiration. When you think of colleges/universities many of us think right away of sports (ahem, maybe some of us would have a higher GPA if we thought of academics first, but I digress…). Sports is an important function in higher education and keeping sports surfaces safe and functional while maintaining a ‘green’ edge is certainly a priority. One group dedicated to respecting the environment while we play (varsity/intramural/goofing around) is the Global Sports Alliance.
GSA promotes sustainability in not only maintaining fields and other playing areas but also devotes its energies to reusing sports equipment even when it outlives its intended purpose. For example, GSA collects old tennis balls and donates them to schools. Students throw them at teachers when there is a pop quiz. Well, no they don’t, but they might now. What really happens is workers make a cut in the ball and they are then placed on the chair and desk feet thereby reducing the need to constantly refinish floors due to scratches and grooves. A terrific solution that is wonderful in its simplicity. Another GSA project here at UR was the collection of used handballs. These small items were donated to a local animal shelter, Lollypop Farms, so cats and kittens waiting for adoption had play toys. It’s amazing what a few small actions can accomplish. But you already knew that.
For more information about GSA, contact our manager of Grounds, Dan Schied at Dschied@facilities.rochester.edu