Student Project Becomes Downtown Community Space

An urban renewal project on the northwest corner of Broadway and Sprigg brought together work by historic preservation, art and horticulture students and faculty at Southeast along with the City of Cape Girardeau.

The space has been transformed into a student art showcase garden, a project launched by Southeast senior Lydia Ness, a historic preservation major from Valley Park, Missouri. The project marks the completion of Ness’ honors distinction project.

The project is designed to benefit both the Southeast student population as well as the city and downtown areas. The space is primarily focused on showcasing student artwork. At the centerpiece of the space is a sculpture created by Southeast student Ashley Sexton of Cape Girardeau. The area also features park benches, trees and shrubbery donated by the Cape Girardeau Department of Parks and Recreation that will be installed and planted by students in Southeast’s horticulture program. “This project was able to give me real world experience with the work of collaboration across many departments and organizations in the city,” says Ness.

Find out more at news.semo.edu.