On July 2, the landscaping around the OCCC electronic sign on the corner of S.W. 74th Street and May Avenue remains unfinished. Rain delayed the completion of the $12,000 project, which will consist of a concrete flowerbed and professional landscaping. Photo by Jay Rocamontes

Rain delays landscaping around sign

By Brittany Legako, News Writing Student

Despite the non-stop rain, the college is completing a new landscaping project to beautify the campus at the corner of May Avenue and S.W. 74th Street.

Building and Campus Supervisor Gary Phillips said the new project consists of a concrete footing around the lighted electronic scrolling OCCC sign.

The footing will surround a flowerbed filled with green shrubbery and ground cover plants.

The project will cost $12,000 to complete, with the money coming from the college’s budget for landscaping and grounds, Phillips said.

The project was planned to take a week but has become a three-week project because of the rain, and will be completed once the rain subsides and the area dries, said Phillips.

OCCC nursing student Becca Oberfield, who also attends Palm Beach Atlantic in Florida said, “This is my first time to attend O-trip so almost everything caught my eye.

“However the landscaping got my attention, which is good not only for potential students, but to give pride to current students as well,” she said.

Phillips said some of the concrete for the footing of the flowerbed was laid last Wednesday during a break from the rain, but the following day black plastic had to be put on top to keep the footing dry.

Even though the rain set the project back, Phillips said he remains positive about the project.

“Nothing has been frustrating,” he said, “but it is exciting the campus is becoming more eye-appealing.”

R&R Construction is laying the concrete footing for the flowerbed, and TruGreen LandCare, the same company that maintains the grounds, is responsible for the landscaping, Phillips said.

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