Wake Forest freshening up outdoor furniture, games

August 11, 2016

Three years after Wake Forest launched a program to promote more outdoor relaxation and fun on campus, the University is freshening up the program with new furniture, games and more.

When students return to campus this month, they will find the University has replaced all of the outdoor furniture installed in 2013, added more “giant” games, repaired the carts that store countless games, added new games to those carts, and more.

Back then, university administrators said they hoped to interrupt students’ regular routines a bit and get them to add a healthy measure of spontaneity and play to their campus activities.  In planning the program, Wake Forest consulted closely with Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corp. a group with significant experience turning underused open spaces into areas for passers-by to stop and appreciate.

University staff say the program is a success and they want to keep it going with this fall semester’s improvements.

Part of this updating involves a deliberate effort to link the entire program more closely with Thrive, a comprehensive, campus-wide initiative to promote wellbeing among the entire campus community.  For instance, various carts and equipment will carry the popular Thrive logo.

Here’s what’s new for the fall semester:

–New furniture replaces the original furniture.
–Game carts are newly repaired and stocked with new games and sports equipment.
–Carts and equipment are branded with the Thrive logo.
–The giant chess and giant connect four games will be joined by giant Wake Forest Jenga and Demon Deacon corn hole. Giant games can be checked out by contacting Leigh Myers at myersl@wfu.edu.
–Students have been hired by Campus Life to play the outdoor piano during “high traffic” times on Hearn Plaza.

Helping Wake Forest with this program are 19 student employees who are part of Campus Life’s Event Resource Management (ERM) staff.  ERM staff are available seven days a week to assist with various activities on campus.