The Reflection Pool Transformation Project (Revised)

The Reflection Pool Transformation Project

The Reflection Pool, first of all, was a small pool area with a fountain, outside the Northwest area of the student center. Although a beautiful component of our campus at one point, it now has become a forgotten, but very visible part of our school. Currently, only the structure of the pool remains as water has not been present in it for several years. Our facilities department has done a great job of keeping it clean from trash, leaves, and other materials, as it has become a haven for these and other undesirable objects. The area is unfit for many reasons and must be transformed into something useful for our campus community and specifically students.

The Goal:

The Goal is to transform the Reflection Pool into a garden with a small courtyard fountain and a couple of benches where students can choose to eat, study, or just hangout in an outside environment. It will be a very inexpensive project for our students, given that it is an “in housed project.” What this essentially means is that we will not be contracting an outside company to do the work. This eliminates the majority of the cost, given that we are using our own personnel and resources to begin and complete the project. With the creativity of our facilities department and the leadership of Brian Lighliter, an asset to our campus and the spearhead of the project, we have come up with many ways to get the best bang for our buck and go green at the same time.

The Phases:

Phase I:

The Transformation of the Reflection pool has several phases. The first phase was creating a drainage system for the garden.. Now, drainage systems can be very expensive, given that new pipes have to be connected from a given point to another, usually to a much larger system. However, with the creativity of Mr. Lighliter, we have implemented what is known as a natural drainage system, which was almost at no cost. This is so, given the simplicity of the system. Essentially, holes are drilled throughout the surface of the pool, allowing water to flow through so that water drains into the earth. This is not only an inexpensive drainage system, it is environmentally friendly, given that water with nutrients from the soil form the garden above, will be the only material to reach the soil underneath the empty pool. The holes have already been drilled and during our winter break, the system was tested and it was very successful.

Phase II:

The Second phase of the project is ordering the materials that will fill in the empty pool. The bottom of the empty pool will have a combination of fine and robust granite, acting as a filter system, allowing only water to sink to the surface. The upper layers will be a combination of different soils. We have currently ordered theses materials and are looking of the best deal for the soils.

Phase III:

After the empty pool is filled with granite and soil, designing a outline of the plant outlay will follow, however, we have already began and are in the process of finalizing some designs. Again, with the help of Brain Lighliter and the facilities department, along with Professor Roger Ernest, we have already come up with some basic ideas. The plants that we have in mind will be California native, meaning they do not need much maintenance or water. This, along with our natural drainage system, is another component of the Reflection Pool Transformation Project that is environmentally friendly and at the same time aesthetically appealing.

Phase VI:

After the plants have been planted, the plan is to have the small courtyard fountain ready to be placed within the garden. The fountain that we have chosen up to this point is one that recycles the water it uses throughout the day. So, in essence, the entire project, from the natural drainage system, to the California native plants, and the water recycling system that the fountain uses, are all part of the going green initiative that we at the ASCC would like to see throughout our entire campus, specifically, in the campus transformation.

Phase V:

The last part of the transformation is adding several benches around the garden so that students can enjoy it. These benches will be placed under two of the trees near the garden area so that students will have shaded areas to eat, study, or just hangout.

The Budget:

Again, given that this is an in housed project, along with the creativity and leadership of our facilities department and Roger Ernest, this project will be relatively inexpensive. As of the budget allocated for the transformation, it will be coming out of the student center account, which has already been allocated to the student center as of last year’s budget. In essence, we are getting a lot of bang for our buck thanks to our facilities department and overall, the commitment of our Board of Trustee’s, administrators, faculty, staff, and students who dedicated in transforming our college into an institution of the 21^st century; one that embraces innovation, progress, and a strong commitment not only to our community’s needs, but to our environment as well.

The Aim:

The Aim is to have the garden finished by the Spring Awards Banquet. However, there is a possibility that our budget crises might effect the intended date of completion, given that our facilities department has lost some of its hourly employees. However, we at the ASCC will do all we can to work with our facilities department to meet their new needs and in accomplishing this project together.

Michael Barrita-Diaz
President
Associated Students
Cerritos College

Sergio Vazquez
Commissioner of Public Relations
Associated Students
Cerritos College