What's already there: The Grassy Knoll

The University Boulevard Competition proposes to replace the Grassy Knoll and the Lower SUB Plaza with a covered area and retail buildings. These two areas, however, serve various purposes that may not be adequately served by the new spaces.

The Grassy Knoll serves as:

• A metaphorical rallying point


• A movie theater (see Friday September 8th)


• A place to eat outdoors


• A place to meet people


• A demonstration space


• ski/toboggan hill


• A place to watch Storm the Wall

It is referred to as "a site for and symbol of student activism... a cherished spot on campus."

The Lower SUB Plaza is used as:

• A space for discourse


• Sport area

Comments about designs for the are new bus loop say

• that students are "very concerned about the underground bus loop. In all the designs, having more entrances and somehow opening it up a little would make (them) feel a lot more comfortable about going there, especially at night. Also, there (is) lots of paving and almost no natural surfaces..."


• that “The grassy knoll is one of the few places students can gather on campus to meet each
  other, to socialize and to build real community. All the proposals replace this with places for students to buy things and consume. We want real social, green space, not the limited amounts each proposal has to offer.”


• That “What UBC campus lacks is green spaces which act as communal meeting grounds for its students and staff. Boulevards do not count, as no-one actually hangs out on boulevards. The grassy knoll currently is one of the only such features of this campus.”


• That students are “VERY concerned with the destruction of the "grassy knoll." It has long been the center of student political activity on campus, and is well used as such. There seems to be an emphasis in these presentations on cozy pathways and places to lounge in the sun. This is blatantly impractical, as there is rain at UBC for most of the school year. UBC is a large school, and this should be celebrated; it feels good, as a student, to be part of a crowd in an open space, all rushing to class in the same direction. The division of this open space into smaller pathways actually diminishes this sense of community, in addition to creating a potential safety hazard for students walking at night. "