With evergreens lining the road and daylilies adding color, the grounds of the Mishawaka (Ind.) Wastewater Treatment Plant complement the facility’s limestone buildings, nearby neighborhoods and the downtown’s green space.
When the plant was built in 1952, there were just a handful of houses nearby, but as the neighborhoods grew, so did the plant that served them, narrowing the space between. “We’re just west of downtown, between two neighborhoods,” says Karl Kopec, Mishawaka Utilities Wastewater Division manager. “The neighbors and the mayor wanted to make sure the plant looked good, and we said we’d emphasize the landscape as part of the plant expansion.”
Help from a master
Plant employees became key players. “When the original design was done for the expansion, the bids came in higher than the engineer’s estimate,” Kopec says. “We had to look for cuts. Landscaping was eliminated from the project initially and we decided we’d handle it separately. When the construction was nearing completion, there was pressure on the staff to get the landscaping done.”
The added workload had its benefits. “It was more work for us,” says Kopec. “But we had more input. Our administrative assistant at the plant, Marge Pieters, is a master gardener. She worked with a local landscape nursery to modify the original plan that was deleted from the plant expansion scope of work.”
Landscaping began in fall of 2007 and continued through spring of 2008, as plant renovations were completed. The landscaping includes 22 types of plants, and there are hopes that more plants will come. Rocks were incorporated into the layout, including a rock garden at the entryway of the administration building.
“Marge designed the rock garden with Rick Springer of the city’s park department,” Kopec says. “Park department and treatment plant staff built the rock garden. Rocks that were used in the landscaping were unearthed during the construction of the expansion.”
Rock engraving
One large rock is inscribed with, “Mishawaka Utilities Wastewater Division,” along with the county’s logo. This one was not found on-site. Kopec and utility general manager Jim Schrader visited a rock engraver in a nearby town and found the future sign sitting out front.
The treatment plant borders the St. Joseph River, where a major downtown renovation is underway. In addition, the Mishawaka Riverwalk, a looped path connecting downtown locations, passes the plant.
“A lot of wastewater treatment plants are isolated,” says Kopec. “But we get a lot of foot traffic and we get a lot of compliments.”
