Detailed foundation plantings at the residential buildings would improve the character.

Tree groves planted between recreational fields would provide shade and interest.

6. Recreation and Residence

Character

This landscape zone consists of two subsets that are adjacent to one another but distinctly different. The general landscape development within this overall area will require a simplistic design approach incorporating a durable and easy-to-maintain planting design. Areas within the active recreation fields are to remain open turf; however, the transitional spaces between active play areas should be defined by informal groupings of large shade trees with tables and gathering areas incorporated beneath their canopies. The incorporation of these groves will compartmentalize the impact of the vast recreation fields by breaking down sightlines and giving edges to the various play areas. In addition, experimentation with native meadow grasses, as well as ornamental grasses and perennials, in transitional spaces will help reduce maintenance.

The Residential Areas should be moderately enhanced with strategic massing of understory trees and durable perennial flowers for color and intimate scale. The Residential Areas shall, however, primarily remain open and flexible for their multi-use functions. A further opportunity exists for a more intimate landscape design at the housing facilities' entryways. Shrub massing should be added here.

Recommendations

Recreation

1. Large scale plantings of shade trees native to this coastal area should provide definition to spectator seating areas.
2. Experimentation with drought tolerant wildflower plots and native grasses is possible in transitional spaces between play fields.

Residence

1. Tough perennials like daylilies and irises, and ornamental grasses should be planted to enrich pocket areas of the Residential Core.
2. Understory trees with seasonal color will provide the personal scale to the Residence Halls.
3. A playful opportunity could occur here by locating swings in the Residential areas. These swings should be located in gathering areas near tree masses to provide a canopy enclosure to the setting.
4. Variety should be introduced into the Apartment gardens. An extremely high quantity of Red Tip Photinias exist here. Due to their disease problems, these Photinias should be replaced with other hardier evergreens such as hollies. A phasing plan for their replacement is necessary.
5. The large paved circular concrete areas which exist in the University Apartments should be softened with tree pit cut outs and with the introduction of brick paving borders.
6. Seating areas should be introduced wherever possible to provide gathering areas. Low seatwalls in combination with raised planters would define spaces, provide seating, as well as conceal views to the extensive bicycle parking stations.
7. Details are important to the Residential gardens. Daffodil bulbs in masses would provide garden detail with limited maintenance. In addition, large specimen evergreen trees would allow for lighting ceremonies by the students during the Christmas holiday season.
8. A study should be performed on pedestrian circulation through the residential areas. Presently several pathways are worn through landscape areas.

Maintenance

A low level of maintenance will be important to this overall zone. The plant pallet should consist of durable plants which require little spraying or pruning.

Lawn maintenance will be high on the recreational fields but native grasses and tree groves will reduce the maintenance needs between these fields. The lawn areas in the Residential zones should remain at a moderate maintenance level.

Issues

• Irrigation should be phased into the residential gardens and lawn areas.
• Grasses and wildflower plantings placed between the recreational fields should be maintained in a similar fashion to the NCDOT wildflower plots.
• Leaf litter clean up and pruning of foundation shrubs in the Residential zone will be necessary on a limited basis.

Plant Palette

Recreation Fields

Shade Trees

Betula nigra/River Birth
Fraxinus pennsylvanica/Green Ash
Pinus palustris/Longleaf Pine
Quercus phellos/Willow Oak
Quercus nigra/Water Oak
Taxodium distichum/Baldcypress

Grasses/Perennials

Andropogon virginicus/Broom Sedge
Eragrostis curvula/Weeping Love Grass
Hemerocallis fulva/Daylily
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'/Maiden Grass
Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal'/'Heavy Metal' Switchgrass
Pennisetum alopecuroides/Fountain Grass
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivanti/Black-Eyed Susan

Residential Gardens

Ornamental Trees

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'/Forest Pansy Redbud
Eriobotrya cinerea/Loquat
Halesia carolina/Carolina Silverbell
Koelreuteria paniculata/Golden Rain Tree
Pistacia chinensis/Chinese Pistache
Ulmus parvifolia 'Drake'/Drake Elm

Foundation Shrubs

Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'/Dwarf Yaupon Holly
Loropetalum chinense/Loropetalum
Myrica cerifera var. pumila/Dwarf Wax Myrtle
Pittosporum tobira 'Nana'/Dwarf Pittosporum
Raphiolepis indica/Indian Hawthorn
Viburnum tinus 'Compacta'/Compact tinus Viburnum

Perennials

Coreopsis verticillata `Moonbeam'/Moonbeam Coreopsis
Echinacea angustifolia/Purple Coneflower
Hemerocallis fulva/Daylily
Monarda didyma/Bee Balm
Sedum telephium 'Autumn Joy'/Autumn Joy Sedum
Stokesia laevis/Stokes Aster
Verbena canadensis `Homestead'/Purple Verbena