Georgia McNamaraAs a recent graduate of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program at the University of Kentucky – and a proud alum of the Sustainability Internship Program – I had the pleasure to serve as the UK Healthcare Sustainability Intern during my senior year. This experience allowed me to work on a variety of projects, ranging from communication initiatives to larger, hands-on, detail-oriented efforts. One of the most meaningful was my independent project, Pockets of Green.
The project had two primary aims:
- Develop well-maintained pockets of green space within UK HealthCare’s ever-expanding urban environment.
- Create welcoming restorative areas that support the physical and mental well-being of both patients and staff.
Two main areas were identified for revitalization: the public terrace outside Chandler Dining in Pavilion A, and the staff-only terrace also located in Pavilion A.
Throughout the course of this project, I had the opportunity to engage and collaborate with several campus and healthcare partners. Dr. Connie Jennings, Head of the UKHC Greenspaces Subcommittee, was a vital partner who helped me identify and evaluate sites in need of improvement. Dr. Jennings also played a crucial role in connecting me with other partners, including my main collaborator, Madyline (Mady) Cline, a UKHC nurse and UK graduate student. Mady previously worked on the public terrace as part of her graduate research and brought valuable insight to the project. She helped guide next steps and was a strong collaborator in planning on how to transform the space. Additionally, she was instrumental in hands-on tasks such as removing dead plants and trash and spreading fresh topsoil.
I also worked with UK Grounds, who provided important guidance on the maintenance plan for the site. They supplied fresh topsoil, giving the planter boxes a refreshed appearance, and confirmed that they would continue maintaining the boxes after the conclusion of my internship, ensuring the green spaces can continue to thrive.
The first step in the implementation of this project involved assessing the existing green spaces to understand what was not working. Dr. Jennings and I discovered that the primary issue was that overgrown weeds and an abundance of dead plants were preventing these spaces from serving as calm, restorative environments. We also determined that the communication channels between UK Grounds and UKHC needed to be strengthened to ensure regular maintenance of the green spaces.
Once communication between UKHC and UK Grounds was flowing, Mady and I cleared the planter boxes of dead plants and trash, spread fresh soil, and sowed native wildflower seeds – chosen for their low maintenance needs and long-term climate resilience.
This internship helped me develop the skills to manage a large, multi-partner project and communicate effectively within a large organization. Most of all, Pockets of Green gave me confidence that I will take with me into graduate school and my future career.
