Announcements

As Horned Frogs walk across campus this season, they may notice some shrubs have been pruned back more dramatically than usual. While the change may look surprising at first, it is intentional and part of a proven horticultural practice called rejuvenation pruning — and it supports TCU’s commitment to sustainability.

“Over time, shrubs that receive only light, frequent trimming become woody, overgrown and harder to maintain,” explained Erik Trevino, director of landscaping and grounds. “This approach requires repeated labor and increased resource use while plant health gradually declines. Rejuvenation pruning takes a smarter approach by cutting shrubs back significantly all at once, removing old growth and allowing plants to redirect energy into strong, healthy new growth.”

Although shrubs may look sparse immediately after pruning, this phase is temporary, Trevino explained. Within a growing season, rejuvenated plants fill in more evenly and naturally. Over the long term, they require less frequent pruning, less equipment use and less ongoing labor, reducing fuel consumption, wear on equipment and overall resource use.

“By extending the life of existing plants and reducing maintenance demands, rejuvenation pruning is a sustainable investment in our campus landscape — one that improves plant health, conserves resources and allows our grounds team to focus on proactive care across campus,” Trevino said.

Sometimes sustainability means making a bold change today for better results tomorrow. That’s rejuvenation pruning — and that’s working smarter, not harder.

TCU is moving forward with key implementation elements of the Campus Master Plan, with major site preparation and construction work scheduled in the coming weeks. These improvements, concentrated around the intersection of West Berry St. and Greene Ave., will support future development and reflect the university’s commitment to long-term student-centered growth as identified in the university's strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action.

As part of this work, three buildings fronting Greene Ave. — previously home to the TCU Costume shop and storage, a TCU Art Gallery and the City of Fort Worth Police Department storefront — have been vacated and relocated as part of this project. These building are scheduled to be demolished on April 7, 2025 and the associated parking lot, located at the corner of Berry St. and Greene Ave. will be permanently closed.

In addition to the building demolitions, several phased closures and traffic adjustments will occur over the spring and summer as pictured below.

• Late April 2025: Construction site fencing will be installed, closing Cockrell Ave. and the parking areas within the designated red-line zone pictured. Essentially the parking lots between Cockrell Ave. and Green Ave. as well as the larger campus store parking lot will be closed. This area will remain closed until the project is complete in July 2027.
• May 2025: A lane closure on Greene Ave. will begin allowing for only north-bound traffic and is expected to continue through July 2025.
• July 2025: A lane closure on Bowie St. will begin allowing for only west-bound traffic and is expected to continue through August 2025.
• July 2025: A west-bound lane closure on Berry St. will begin and is projected to continue through early September 2025, prior to the first home football game.

These closures are essential to ensure the safety of the campus community and the timely progression of the project. TCU is working closely with city officials, contractors and internal stakeholders to minimize disruption and ensure clear, timely communication.

To accommodate parking shifts during the various stages of construction over the next few years, TCU will reallocate and relocate existing parking, enhance campus shuttle service, significantly limit student parking access and increase the sharing of parking resources across campus.

The first phase of parking changes will begin April 20,2025 with minimal impact to surrounding neighborhoods. A second, broader phase will follow in August 2025.

Parking update plans are being finalized and will be shared as specifics are confirmed. We encourage students, faculty and staff to plan ahead and watch for updates, as parking adjustments may affect commuting patterns and event access.

Spring Break will bring visible changes to campus as three structures fronting Greene Street at the intersection of West Berry and Greene are scheduled for demolition. These buildings, previously home to the TCU Costume Shop and Storage, TCU Art Gallery, and the City of Fort Worth Police, have been vacated and relocated as part of this project.

This work is part of the Campus Master Plan and will prepare the site for future development. Demolition will take place while the campus community is away, and after the break, Horned Frogs will notice a significant transformation in this area. Parking in the vicinity may be temporarily impacted as utility work will continue through the spring semester.