KEEPING COLUMBIA BEAUTIFUL
Operations is committed to enriching the lives of University students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors through the beautification and maintenance of our campuses’ grounds and green spaces.
The word “maintaining” is shorthand for a broad expanse of responsibilities, which include lawn and plant maintenance, snow removal, sustainable landscaping practices and the selection of types of plants, maintenance of outdoor furnishings, among many other services.
CAMPUS LAWNS
Our overall goal for lawn access and lawn care is to maximize access to the lawns for the University community while maintaining the campus’s natural beauty. Lawns throughout campus are available for passive recreational use and are reservable for events.
For South Lawns, Hamilton Lawn and Furnald Lawn, we aim to always have at least one large lawn and one small lawn open during non-inclement weather days.
LAWN OPEN/CLOSED STATUS
The dashboard to the left shows the open/closed status for our campus lawns. As always, if using the lawns, please pick up after yourselves to help us keep Columbia, clean, safe and beautiful.
Learn More About Columbia's Grounds
Please feel free to conduct a self-guided garden tour by referencing our Morningside campus grounds map.
More information on scheduling a campus tour can be found on Columbia's Visitors website.
Learn more about our sustainable efforts, including electric grounds equipment, mulching, LED tree lighting, and more.
Landscaping and Grounds Services
Operations provides the following services to help maintain and beautify Columbia's landscaping and grounds.
Landscaping and Grounds News
Summer 2026 Construction Projects
Facilities and Operations is performing a number of projects across the Morningside campus over the summer, including improvements to grounds, residence halls, and more.
Reimagining College Walk: A Thoughtful Approach to Landscape Renewal
Following recommendations of professional arborists, Columbia’s Grounds team thoughtfully redesigned College Walk to ensure the long-term health of its trees.
College Walk Bench and Flower Bed Installation Update
Facilities and Operations has installed benches along the southwest plot on College Walk adjacent to Pulitzer Hall to add more casual seating areas. Following the bench installation, an assortment of seasonal flowers are being added to the landscaping around the benches.