CAMPUS CONFIDENTIAL UF'S BEST-KEPT SECRETS
By Melissa Smith
Picture the University of Florida campus. You’re probably thinking vine-clad walls, brick buildings and a landmark like Century Tower or Plaza of the Americas. Although these do make UF beautiful, there is more to campus than meets the eye. There are a number of parts of the university that not everyone knows about or visits regularly. Most of them you can check out for yourself, but some hidden treasures aren’t accessible to the public. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, biology aficionado or sports fanatic, I guarantee there’s a sweet spot on campus that you may not have known about. Here are some of my favorites:
BARTRAM CARR WOODS CONSERVATION AREA Sit under the shade of a massive sweetgum tree, soak up the greenery, listen to cicadas chirping in the trees, watch little fishes and turtles swim down a tiny creek and de-stress after an exam or between classes. Bartram Carr Woods is an almost 9-acre upland hardwood forest area located between Frazier-Rogers Hall and the College of Medicine on the University of Florida campus. The area, named after William Bartram and Archie Carr, two of Florida’s most renowned naturalists, is a great place to stay focused and relaxed while doing homework. And with a large grassy area, plenty of benches and a couple of picnic pavilions, it’s the perfect spot to take your kids for an afternoon of play and natural discovery. The area’s main trails are paved in a porous rubber material made out of recycled tires and a resin adhesive. The material allows rainwater to seep into the soil below, sustaining the tree roots that run under the trails and reducing erosion in the area. Plus, it’s cushy enough to be easy on your feet on the walk through. Erik Lewis, a UF senior planner, said the woods pre-date campus development. He said the buildings that have sprung up around the area make the perfect setting for fieldwork.
The woods are open to the public from dusk until dawn 365 days per year.
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Photos By Melissa Smith
“[The woods’] proximity to many natural-resourcesbased colleges makes it an ideal location to have students learn and experience the natural environment right outside their classroom door,” he said. “It also functions as a place for people on campus to get respite from the hustle and bustle.”