Fall promises cooler temperatures and beautiful colors. Students at UNC Greensboro are sure to be looking for the perfect spot to do homework, socialize, or relax in between the demands of midterm projects.

“In college and grad school, you’re looking for that third space,” says Abby Draut ’22, Piedmont legacy trails coordinator for Piedmont Land Conservancy. A “third space,” she explains, is an area outside the home, workplace, or classroom that becomes a space for leisure. “Whether you want to be alone or be social, a third space is one you want to be comfortable in.” 

Mapping Out A Third Space 

The construction staging zone will remain on the lawn outside the Jackson Library into next year, which cuts off access to some traditional outdoor hangouts. Fortunately, the more than 200 acres of campus is full of space for students to get away from the noise. Many of these were made possible by generous gifts from donors and alumni.

“You do not have to be active to benefit from the outdoors,” says Draut. “It can be enjoyed anyway you want. You can paint, do homework, play sports, run, walk, or sit under a tree all day. There’s a lot of effort going into making the outdoors more accessible and friendly to everyone.” 

As a capstone project for her master of science in parks and recreation management, Draut surveyed students to learn what they wanted from outdoor spaces. “Surprisingly, people wanted a space to do homework,” she says. “Granted, this is a stat from COVID-19, but people wanted more access to be comfortable outdoors. The other half of responses were students who wanted to play games or throw around a frisbee or a ball.”

Draut created a map that labels benches, lights, trees, accessible access points, and other attractive parts of campus. That map is still used by UNCG today. 

Here’s some spots that UNCG encourages you to check out as you find your perfect third space.

Chill by the Water 

The fountain at Moran Plaza is a popular spot for students, but it’s not the only spot to enjoy the soothing sound of running water. 

Despite being the center of campus next to the EUC, Taylor Garden is somewhat of a hidden gem, just off the beaten path from the Minerva statue and College Avenue. Tables and chairs sit around a bubbling fountain. It’s a good place for friends to eat lunch or for a student who needs a change of scenery to inspire them while writing that important paper.

Further north, music students are familiar with the fountain at the Elizabeth Herring Memorial Garden outside the Tew Recital Hall. The sound of running water makes it a popular spot for lunch on the lawn or yoga. If you don’t want to bring a lawn blanket or a yoga mat, there are also benches along the walkway around the fountain, and more seating inside the School of Music veranda where you might catch soothing sounds of music from students as they practice.

Combine the calming atmosphere of a pond with swimming koi behind the Smith Campus Ministries Center. UNCG’s groundskeeping crews recently gave the pond a much-needed makeover, restoring it to its former glory. You can make use of the benches there or bring your own chair to this shady spot. Do not be put off by the roar of the HVAC compressors that you’ll pass to reach it. Once you get there, you might feel like you’re in your own little world instead of the center of a bustling campus and city. 

A Campus Made for Walking 

Since the days of Dr. Anna Gove, the campus’ first physician who required daily walks in Peabody Park, UNCG has encouraged students to use the natural landscape for exercise. Follow any of the mapped walking trails, and pick the sidewalk or a winding path in the woods. 

Two of the most popular trails will take you north past the residence halls. The Irwin Belk Recreation Track lets you cross small bridges overlooking streams, and you might catch sight of a golfer working on their swing on the course north of the basketball and volleyball courts, but the trees provide protection from stray balls and drivers.

Peabody Park will immerse you even deeper into the nature experience. This historic mixed hardwood forest has been restored and preserved with native plants. It is so well maintained that it’s easy to forget you’re still on a campus full of thousands of students and just a short drive from downtown Greensboro. 

You can also use exercise as an excuse to spice up your menu with a saunter across Gate City Boulevard to Spartan Village. Grab a bite to eat from the restaurants – with specialties such as Asian fusion, soul food, and Peruvian-themed pizza – and dine out on the outdoor space alongside along Glenwood Avenue.

Relax or Play

One of the best things about Foust Park is how close it is to the heart of campus. It won’t take more than a few minutes to get there from the EUC or your last class of the day. Its well-tended trees add to the relaxing experience, even as cars drive by on nearby Spring Garden Street. And if you do a little exploring there, you might find UNCG’s hidden swing. 

If you don’t want to leave the Quad, take a seat in one of the new Adirondack chairs provided by a Green Fund awarded to the Office of Sustainability. These chairs are perfect for relaxing with a good book you’ve been itching to finish or with your laptop as you put the final touches on a project. 

UNCG Recreation and Wellness now makes it possible for you to organize a competitive lawn game with friends, and Outdoor Adventures now offers free yard game rentals. On a first-come, first-serve basis, go to the climbing wall at the Kaplan Center to pick up a spikeball or cornhole set, hammocks, picnic blankets, Yardzee, Kan Jam, disc golf discs, and more. The list of all lawn items, and other items for rent with a fee, are available here.

Mix leisure with thought-provoking art by stopping in the Weatherspoon Art Museum courtyard. Fuel with a coffee from Borough coffee cart and take advantage of the speakers around the area that play soothing audio to add to the introspective nature of the museum. 

The secret spot Draut found as a student is Galyon Garden beside the UNCG Auditorium. “That one surprised me. It’s behind the auditorium along Tate Street,” she says. “There’s a little courtyard there, and it’s beautiful with a willow tree and a rosemary bush.” 

Your third space might be one of these, but they are far from the only option. While UNCG works hard on capital projects to enhance learning for generations of Spartans to come, today’s Spartans can jump on the chance to discover something new. Taking a left instead of your traditional right may lead to that one spot that’s so perfect, you and your friends will never want to leave it.

“Everybody has their own benefit from the outdoors,” says Draut. “Everybody has their own special relationship with nature. Find what nature means to you.”

Story by Janet Imrick, University Communications
Photography by Sean Norona, University Communications
Additional photography by David Lee Row and Martin W. Kane, University Communications