Walla Walla, WA – The Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers will be modifying the landscaping around its district office campus this summer. These changes are being made to create a more people- friendly experience for our community, reduce maintenance costs and align with Executive Orders for energy and water-savings.
Among the modifications, there will be three main improvements made to the Walla Walla District Office campus. The first of these is enhanced circulation. The Corps will be adding sidewalks to provide multiple access points from the city sidewalks as well as the ability to walk completely around the building without having to walk in the grass, mud, or snow.
The second improvement concerns security. The Corps has already removed the large evergreen shrubbery that reduced visibility to enhance site safety. Removing some of the trees improves visibility for security guards and cameras by allowing clear lines of sight to all areas around our building.
Lastly, the outdoor gathering area on the west side of the building will be modified to become an amphitheater with a stamped concrete patio. This is the third and final major improvement to be made to the campus this summer.
In March 2017, the office of Assistant Secretary of Defense sent a memo to all Department of Defense facilities, directing each facility to determine ways to reduce the use of domestic water for the purposes of landscape architecture maintenance. The new landscaping will utilize plants and trees that require less maintenance and water in order to meet the requirements of the memo while balancing the park-like aesthetics of our community.
The contract is expected to be awarded by the end of April. Construction is scheduled to begin in June and last until October.
For more information about the project, contact Samantha Handcox at 509-386-0201.
Release no. 21-021