Orange fences on the Oval preserve grass, annoy Ohio State students

The orange fences on the Oval might be around for a while longer.

There to support recently planted grass, the fencing allows the new grass seedlings to become mature enough to stand up to normal use, stated Lindsay Komlanc, Ohio State spokeswoman for Administration and Planning, in an email. This might mean the fenced-off areas will remain fenced off until spring, Komlanc said.

The grass was planted by the OSU Facilities Operations and Development Landscape Services team.

FODs Landscape Services will evaluate each area (in the spring) to determine when we will be able to re-open them for use, Komlanc said.

There have been several big events held on the Oval so far this school year that have contributed to grass damage: Rock the Oval, a free concert for students, was held on the Oval Oct. 4. Five days later, President Barack Obama gave a speech on the Oval to a crowd of about 15,000.

The areas currently under repair do overlap with some of the areas used for events held on the Oval this fall. The lawns on the Oval are used frequently by many people, Komlanc said. We regularly re-seed and repair grass in areas that receive high usage around the university.

There was also temporary fencing in place along Woody Hayes Drive while the university was establishing grass after the construction along that route, Komlanc said. She added that there is currently fencing around the RPAC square while grass grows as well.

Some students said they dont like the fences because of their neon orange color.

Normally we all just like sit in the grass (on the Oval) and stuff, and its like normally really pretty and open, but now its just like in the way of everything and it kind of doesnt look good, said Brittany Clemmons, a second-year in human development and family science.

Many said they didnt know why the fences are on the Oval.

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Orange fences on the Oval preserve grass, annoy Ohio State students