by BECKY GOFF
Little Apple Post
MANHATTAN - Kansas State University Gardens held groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday afternoon for the new, privately-funded reflecting pool at the north end of the gardens.
The new reflecting pool will resemble the original pool from the original university gardens which were located near Anderson and Holtz halls but was removed in 1978 to build Bluemont Hall.
"There are three adjoining pools to be constructed," K-State Gardens Director Scott McElwain said. "The reflecting pool is the middle pool, which will be raised and chlorinated to limit algae growth, while the two narrower outer pools are not chlorinated, allowing us to grow aquatic plants such as water lilies."
The trio of reflecting pools will by 50 feet by 28 feet and construction of the project is expected to start on October 1st and cost nearly $1 million, with completion of the project expected in January 2023.
Four Manhattan families have worked with the KSU Foundation to assist with funding for the reflecting pool construction, including Leland and Janice Reitz; Don and Linda Glaser; Dan and Beth Bird; and Warren and Carol Weibert.
The Friends of the K-State Gardens Board raised $205,000 at the 'Plant a Seed to Grow the Gardens' dinner auction, to use for the reflecting pool project.