The Ohio State University at Mansfield
IN-1: Innovation 1

Re: Wetlands Research Area The Ohio State University at Mansfield (Ohio State Mansfield) is located on an expanse of 640 acres of forested landscape in north-central Ohio. The co-located institutions Ohio State Mansfield and North Central State College comprise the Mansfield Campus. Ohio State Mansfield has constructed a ½ acre wetlands and 500 feet of stream research area at its current main entrance way that serves as a wetlands research area. This living laboratory provides for faculty and undergraduate research. This area is also used as an outside academic classroom for Ohio State biology courses, local K-12 science classes and women-in-science initiatives. It is innovatively designed to act as storm water retention system for 46 acres of campus uplands runoff. This expanse filters and cleans storm water runoff for campus parking lots and roadways. This area was purposely designed and recognized as a significant natural landscape feature constructed as a part of the campus’ main Administrative Building. Students, faculty, staff and guests are immersed in the natural wetland as they arrive on campus along the entrance roadway that passes through the wetlands and the view provides a natural sightline of the main building. Acting as the genesis of the “Environmental Campus Entrance”, this natural area has been expanded along the length of the entrance roadway to include the re-generation of five acres of manicured lawn to a natural woodlands environment over the past year. This landscape feature continues to generating interest in the developing Environmental Science degree program at Ohio State Mansfield in partnership with other Ohio State Regional Campuses in Wooster and Marion that have Prairie and Farmland environmental study capable areas. The innovative design and use of the Ohio State Mansfield wetlands research area has broad appeal and has enhanced the environmental, educational, social and economic level of the campus and Mansfield community.