The Grounds operation provides support to the 375-acre main University campus. Grounds performs or oversees all horticultural and landscaping maintenance construction on campus. This includes over 15,000 annual flowers that are propagated and planted in 30 flowerbeds across the campus and designed by our Landscape Gardner. In addition, the care and health of over 4,000 trees and 8,000 shrubs are the responsibility of the Certified Arborist. Each year all plants are inspected, and trimmed. The unit is also responsible for snow removal. This includes 25 miles of sidewalk, all parking lots, and drives. Grounds performs maintenance excavation and trenching, providing support to Facilities Management and Heating Plant operations. In addition, Grounds oversees maintenance of the Fell Arboretum.
The Illinois State campus is comprised of 850 acres including 128 acres of turf, 62 acres of parking and 19.5 miles (102,920 linear feet) of sidewalk. The Illinois State campus landscape is home to over 4,000 trees representing over 100 different varieties.