Profile: Landscape Architect Shares Passion for Greenspace

Len Thomas has an insatiable appetite for green space, on the UC campus and off. "Pavement and concrete just aren't very inviting surroundings, and UC wants to try and embrace the community," he said.

Thomas, who has been the head of landscape design for two years at UC, recently helped create a new green space near Fairview Elementary School on West Clifton Avenue. He aided in coordinating the funding and cleaning of the area, as well as its development, tree planting and arrangements.

"This school has virtually no green space," he said. A Fairview Elementary parent, Dayle Deardurff, facilitated the idea for a revitalization project. Since the land originally belonged to UC and the school has a partnership in education with the university, Thomas agreed to help with the change.

"The whole area needed improvements," he said, "and the university wanted to help make a difference." With the aid of Imperial Nursery, Thomas had some plants donated for the new and improved space. And once the Fairview students got involved to help and plant the trees on Arbor Day of this year, the whole operation was both fun and successful.

"Everyone benefits from changes like this, but most of all, the children and the community do. And that's the most important thing," he said. The area now consists of over two acres of vegetation, and about one acre of open green space. Also, the Cincinnati Parks Department will be donating picnic tables and benches to the park in the near future. That project is finishing this fall, but Thomas says UC isn't nearly finished with renovating certain areas around campus.

"We want to change the whole atmosphere from the way most people view it now, which is a college in the middle of a big city. It doesn't have to be that way, and it won't be for much longer," he added. Thomas said the changes include new dormitories, townhouses, shops, and garages on Calhoun Street, acres and acres of new green space, and possibly median strips down Clifton Avenue.

But for Thomas and UC, the main goal is to make the surrounding areas safe, comfortable, and exciting. "We want people to see the campus and the Clifton area, and then actually want to come to UC for reasons besides what the school has to offer academically," Thomas remarked. "This whole thing has turned into such a strong effort to benefit and better the UC community and it seems like everyone wants to help. It's now a juggernaut that just simply cannot be stopped. It actually reminds me a lot of how the phoenix rose up from the ashes to fly once again."

Thomas said the changes won't be completed until approximately 2005. "Regardless of the disruption and chaos related to construction, the university will be alive with vitality, and an improved and increased service to students, staff, and visitors," he concluded.

Background: Throughout his career, Len Thomas has served as an adjunct faculty adviser and has taught various courses at UC, Miami University, and Cincinnati State. He has a bachelor's degree in ornamental horticulture and a master's degree in sociology.