Long-term possibilities
If the pilot works, what could come next
The long-term vision is ≈6 acres of garden across three areas, the low end of the 5–10 acre target. Existing walks would link the areas. It would only be studied after the pilot is reviewed.
Depends on things that are not in place
- Permission from Lehigh to use more than one area
- Soil testing and utility studies
- Funding
- A realistic plan for year-round maintenance
Long-term vision across three areas
Credits: Base map: USDA NAIP 2017 imagery via USGS and USGS elevation. Buildings and roads: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Microsoft ML Buildings, via Overture Maps.
Area 1 · East Summit Lawn ≈3.21 ac
- Pilot core ≈0.74 ac
- Orchard ≈0.5 ac (about 47 trees)
- Summit meadow ≈1.27 ac
- Teaching greenhouse ≈30 × 72 ft
- Summit overlook seating
- Mown meadow trail
Area 2 · Central Circle Green ≈1.71 ac
- Event lawn retained ≈1.0 ac
- Pollinator & rain-garden edges ≈0.46 ac
- Gateway outdoor classroom
Area 3 · West meadow ≈2.08 ac
- Meadow kept as is (possibly the 2021 conversion; to confirm)
- Mown interpretive trail
- Monitoring plots and seed collecting
Pilot compared with the long-term vision
Pilot compared with the long-term vision. All figures approximate.
| Topic | Pilot | Long-term vision |
|---|---|---|
| Size | ≈0.74 ac (0.5–1 ac) | ≈6 ac of garden across Areas 1–3, plus ≈1 ac of event lawn kept |
| Adds | Meadow, edible beds, loop, classroom, rain garden, compost, water point | Orchard ≈0.5 ac (about 47 trees), teaching greenhouse ≈30 × 72 ft, summit meadow ≈1.3 ac, pollinator edges at Area 2, interpreted meadow at Area 3 |
| Fit | Appears to fit Area 1’s gentle terrace | Only if Lehigh releases at least two areas. Ten acres would require clearing woodland, which is not proposed. |
| Earthwork | Target under 1 acre of disturbance | Phased so each phase stays within permit thresholds (to confirm) |
| Timing | Years 1–2 | Years 3–10, after the pilot is reviewed, and only with site permission, studies, funding and upkeep |
Indicative phasing
Phase 0 · 0–6 months
Lehigh review; confirm area, utilities, soils, accessibility and permit path; name a sponsor; baseline biodiversity survey.
Phase 1 · Year 1
Pilot core: meadow preparation and dormant-season seeding, accessible loop, edible beds, compost, rain garden, signs.
Phase 2 · Years 2–3
Optional items (high tunnel, picnic shade, seed nursery, berry hedge); review pilot use and upkeep.
Phase 3 · Years 3–6
Only with site permission, studies, funding and upkeep: orchard, summit meadow, Area 2 edges, Area 3 interpretation.
Phase 4 · Years 5–10
Only with site permission, studies, funding and upkeep: teaching greenhouse as a separate capital project with utility service.
Costs are not yet estimated. Ranges would be prepared with Lehigh Facilities from verified unit costs. Benefits are described qualitatively.
What is not proposed
- No woodland clearing. Reaching 10 acres would require it, so the vision stops at about 6.
- No change to the role of the lawn beside Building C as an event lawn: about 1.0 of its ≈1.71 acres would stay open, and only its edges would change (pollinator and rain-garden planting of about 0.46 acre and a small gateway outdoor classroom), and only if Lehigh agrees.
- Nothing would be built on the West Lawn meadow.
- No underground museum or transit station; those ideas are separate and speculative.
See the pilot plan for the first step.