Grounds
Click here to go to a printable (PDF) quick facts sheet about UWO’s campus grounds.
UW Oshkosh’s 171-acre campus is located in Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley and hosts over 1,700 trees and shrubs. University Facilities Management staff apply a variety of approaches to manage the campus landscape.
We aim to purchase plants from local sources but also encourage resilience by utilizing a wide genetic base within species.
Native prairie and woodland landscaping is installed whenever possible across campus, reducing the area under turf grass. Using plants that are adapted to Wisconsin’s geology and climate reduces the need for irrigation, mowing, and other inputs. It also provides food and habitat for native birds and pollinators. Conscious landscaping has earned UW Oshkosh a monarch way station designation by the butterfly conservation group Monarch Watch and wildlife-friendly habitat certification by the National Wildlife Federation!
Butterfly Gardens
UW Oshkosh has butterfly gardens on campus composed of native plants and shrubs to support local butterflies and other pollinators
Monarch Waystation
- The UW Oshkosh campus has been designated as a Monarch Way Station by conservation group Monarch Watch!
- Milkweed plants, a monarch’s primary nectar source and home, are planted along 5-mile route that goes through campus
Green Roofs
- Reduces volume and speed of runoff and filters rainwater
- Provides insulation in winter and evaporative cooling in summer
- Slows down and reduces volume of water runoff
- Filters water for better water quality
Bioswales
- Grounds engineered to retain stormwater in bioswales as part of green building design on campus
- Reduce the volume and speed of the runoff, and improve water quality (materials tend to be tolerant to a range of conditions consisting of plants native to Wisconsin)
- Home for many insects and local wildlife
Spring Ephemeral Gardens
- Located near Halsey and Harrington with signage indicating the special plant life planted there
- Home to a variety of wildlife species and pollinators
- A species of significance planted here: Dwarf Lake Iris (an endangered species), a perennial native to the Midwest
Native Plants
- A grove of native bur oak trees north of the Arts & Communication Building
- Prairie plantings along Halsey and next to the tennis courts
- and plans are in the works for much more, including a waterfront restoration in Shapiro Park!
Tree Campus USA
In addition to herbaceous plants and forbs on campus, UW Oshkosh has many native, ornamental, and fruit trees. The interactive campus tree map shows the location and species of campus trees. The University has been awarded Tree Campus USA designation each year since 2010 for its continued efforts to preserve and plant new trees on campus.
We advocate conservation-positive landscapes by including endangered, threatened, rare, and endemic taxa and providing food, habitat (including artificial structures like bat and bird houses), and water for wildlife. To this end we limit our use of pesticides as much as possible and use organic fertilizers when necessary and possible. Existing invasive and exotic species are removed via attrition and replacement with native plantings as resources permit. Exceptions may be made for:
- Academics (e.g., pedagogy and research)
- Recreational turf areas (unless native turf grasses are available)
- “Working landscapes” (e.g., vegetable gardens, orchards)
- Historical/cultural gardens (avoid invasive species)
- Replacing lost functional ecological elements where native plants are no longer possible
We reduce our water usage by maximizing precipitation benefits through the use of rain gardens and catchment basins, limit the use of supplemental irrigation once new plants become established, and using recycled or “gray” water as appropriate and as resources permit.
Tree Campus USA 2023 Arbor Day Observation
Every year UWO dedicates a tree to be planted to recognize the significance of good stewardship of the land in which our institution is built.
Our 2023 tree planting ceremony to observe Arbor Day and UWO’s commitment to planting trees through our Tree Campus Higher Education membership. This was the 14th year for the Oshkosh campus to be a member of Tree Campus Higher Education. An oak was planted to replace the oak lost in a storm the year prior.
This was a broadcasted event and can be found on the TitanTV Youtube.
Our 2024 tree planting ceremony was held by the patio facing the river. A sugar maple was planted to eventually shade and nurture the space for both people and environment. See the ceremony here on the Titan TV YouTube.
In cultivating a resilient and sustainable campus environment, our Climate Action and Resilience Plan takes root in the foundational principles of Grounds Management.
Our current initiatives encompass the responsible disposal of organic waste, with grounds waste streams processed into renewable energy and soil products at the Urban Dry Digester on Dempsey Trail. Embracing a local ethos, we maximize the use of Wisconsin-sourced plants, striving for a diverse genetic base that includes native, endangered, and useful species.
Our commitment extends to eliminating invasive species, integrating Permaculture practices, and enhancing wildlife habitats through artificial structures. An important facet of our sustainable grounds improvements include eliminating the use of chemicals that persist in the environment for long periods of time and shifting towards less persistent plant and pest management products. As part of our forward-looking strategy, we are developing a grounds master plan across both UWO campuses, incorporating sustainability goals and fostering biodiversity.
This plan includes maintaining a digital campus tree inventory, evaluating and expanding natural prairie areas, and implementing cultivation programs to enhance soil health.
The preservation of endangered plants, reduction of salt-based ice melt, and the promotion of self-guided educational tours underscore our dedication to fostering a resilient and ecologically mindful campus ecosystem.
Campus Grounds Master Plan
From our Climate Action and Resilience Plan:
Campus Grounds Master Plan
- Properly evaluate and maintain natural and artificial turf areas in alignment with our sustainability goals.
- Continue to participate in Tree Campus Higher Ed program.
- Increase educational signage; expand to include video and web/social media outreach.
- Shared utilization of Halsey campus greenhouses between Grounds and Academic departments.
- Update, maintain and report on Integrated Pest Management Plan.
- Enhanced wildlife habitat by providing artificial structures, including bat and bird houses, and beehives.
- Integrate Permaculture practices throughout campus; Include useful plants (pest deterrents, nitrogen-fixers, edibles, medicinal).
- Maximize the use of locally sourced plants. All plant material to be WI-sourced.
SDG 15: Life on Land
AASHE STARS: OP-9, OP-10, OP-22, IN-20
Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations
UW Oshkosh
800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
