A time to tear down: Dirt flies as Beyond the Bend begins

Dirt is flying as Geneva’s Beyond the Bend campus revamp begins. Pictured above, a PennDOT-hired construction worker bulldozes one of the houses donated by the college to make room for the re-routing of Route 18, which currently follows a hazardous ‘S’ path through campus. more pictures...

 

The year 2007 is underway, and so is construction at Geneva College.

 

Beyond the Bend has begun –the dirt and sod and bricks and boards are moving, the football field is looking rather bare and a few houses have disappeared. 

 
The much-anticipated campus redevelopment project is now on the move – and so far staying on schedule. A $7.5 million venture, Beyond the Bend coincides with plans by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to move Route 18 this year. The campus improvements will include an arched gateway, pedestrian mall, removal of old roadways, new landscaping and major changes to Reeves Field and the aging stadium.

 

In recent weeks the first major signs of construction have appeared, with crews removing the sod and dirt from Reeves Field to prepare it for installation of artificial turf. The new field should be ready for an onslaught of cleats and whistles and bands by late April or early May, and the dirt from Reeves will be reused on the nearby practice field to make it a suitable softball and soccer-practice facility.

 

The college’s own physical-plant and technology teams have already begun to tackle the campus infrastructure, completing much of the new fiber lines to Geneva Arms & Young and lowering the power lines in anticipation of the re-routing of Route 18, as well as constructing a new wall at the north end of the stadium in preparation for new landscaping.

 

In the minds of those behind this long-awaited project, seeing the first concrete fruits of all the planning is especially gratifying.

 

“After many months of planning, it is extremely rewarding to see that this project is no longer just a dream, but instead is now reality,” said Jim Prince, vice president of operations for Geneva. “The College has been planning the Beyond the Bend project for more than four years, and the movement of Route 18 for more than half a century!”

 

On 30^th Street just across Route 18, PennDOT contractors recently demolished three houses as they prepare the way for the highway realignment, which will eliminate the hazardous “S” curve that currently winds through campus. Two college-donated houses, Nellis House and McCreary House, have been demolished, with two additional houses, Montagazzi and Hardies House, awaiting demolition as PennDOT prepares the right-of-way for the Route 18 project.

 

In the meantime, the Beaver Falls Fire Department has made use of some of the houses to conduct fire training.

 

Completion of PennDOT’s roadwork is expected by the end of 2007, with most of Geneva’s coinciding Beyond the Bend improvements following in the spring of 2008. The capital campaign to fund the campus redevelopment continues, with contributions as of Dec. 19 at 78 percent of the $7.5 million goal.

 

“Planning for the project design and fundraising started almost three years ago, so the institutional advancement department has already lived with Beyond the Bend for quite a while,” said Deborah Strong, director of development. “It's very exciting to actually see heavy machinery and dirt being moved. We are very anxious for spring when PennDOT crews will be in our way every day!”

 

Strong called the project a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Geneva College.

 

“We hope donors will catch the vision and partner with us to make Geneva’s campus safe and attractive for generations of students,” she said. “You can leave your mark on Geneva’s campus by supporting Beyond the Bend with your prayers and charitable gifts.”

 

For more information or to contribute financially, go to www.geneva.edu/page/rt18 or contact Geneva’s institutional advancement office at 724-847-6752 or dstrong@geneva.edu.