The Ohio State University has announced a restoration project for historic Mirror Lake and the surrounding areas and has begun the draining process.
From an Ohio State release:
In November 2013, the university began exploring ways to make the lake more sustainable. A series of modifications over many decades had resulted in a body of water that was both polluted and leaking, requiring consistent maintenance and creating thousands of gallons of waste water daily.
The restoration announced today will return Mirror Lake to a more natural and sustainable state — closer to its historical form — while emphasizing improved stormwater management, reducing chemical water treatments, increasing overall biodiversity, and more.
In addition to the lake, Oxley and Pomerene Halls as well as Browning Amphitheater are being renovated to "create modern learning environments for students and faculty."
Here is what that's expected to look like, courtesy of Ohio State:
Restored Mirror Lake
Aerial view of the Mirror Lake District.
The process began today and Ohio State expects the process to be complete by spring 2018 for a grand re-opening of the area.
Fences going up around Mirror Lake now and workers are readying what appears to be pumping equipment. pic.twitter.com/ZoBR1H1BEr
— Kevin Harrish (@Kevinish) October 11, 2016
This of course means the lake will be drained for the week before the Michigan game, when students typically perform their annual jump.
With support from its United Student Government, Ohio State planned to ban the jump in the wake of Austin Singletary's death during the event last November.
The restoration also supports the university’s compelling interest, shared by student leaders, in seeing the recent practice of a Mirror Lake jump ended.
"The restoration also supports the university’s compelling interest, shared by student leaders, in seeing the recent practice of a Mirror Lake jump ended," stated the Ohio State release.
With the lake drained, the ban is just a technicality.
