HEEP Description

Hillside Environmental Education Park
The University of Connecticut's Storrs landfill has an infamous, if not interesting, history. Chemical pits with laboratory detritus and plumes of contaminated leachate were some of the various problems that plagued the dumping site. Since then, UConn has cleaned up its sore spot through correctly capping its landfill. In recent years, the University has engaged plans to take things one step further with the creation of the Hillside Environmental Education Park.

Hillside Environmental Education Park

The University of Connecticut's Storrs landfill has an infamous, if not interesting, history. Chemical pits with laboratory detritus and plumes of contaminated leachate were some of the various problems that plagued the dumping site.

Since then, UConn has cleaned up its sore spot through correctly capping its landfill. In recent years, the University has engaged plans to take things one step further with the creation of the Hillside Environmental Education Park.

The HEEP, with UConn (most notably Gampel Pavilion) in the background

Under a closure permit for UConn's former landfill, the University established a permanent 64-acre preservation area adjacent to the former landfill and to our undeveloped North Campus and parallel to North Hillside Road.

The area is mostly wooded, connects to a town-owned nature preserve, and includes a large wetlands system with a Great Blue Heron rookery.

B & W photo of the landfill (North dormitories can be seen at the top of the photo)

Cut-away view of a vernal pool (vital to native insect and amphibious wildlife)

Faculty and students in UConn's Landscape Architecture department have been included in the development plans for a nature park that would include hiking trails, boardwalks and observation decks, with educational signs describing the diverse ecosystems. Research opportunities would include work with wetlands, vernal pools, amphibians, and invasive plant species management.