The city of Ames has allocated $25,000 for a Campustown Court project that is going to give a new look to the corner of Welch Avenue and Chamberlain Street.

Government of the Student Body deputy director of government relations Alex Ayers, senior in agricultural business, said the funds for the project were originally approved by the city for the 2005 fiscal year when they decided the corner of Welch and Chamberlain needed to undergo changes.

According to the city’s budget for the project, Campustown Court was initially developed as an Ames park in 1989 on just $8,500 that furnished the current wood benches and tables.

The only things that the city asked to be included in the project are new metal benches and tables that will be able to withstand more use by civilians and stand up to different weather conditions.

Also included with the budget were the reasons for the improvements.

According to the document, “After 15 years of use, with no improvements to the park, the site needs to be refurbished. This project supports two of the City Council’s priorities for the year, commercial revitalization and connecting our community.”

Ayers said the city has left most of the decision making up to the students.

“I think it’s great that the city is letting the students turn this into what they want,” Ayers said. “Campustown is a heavily student-populated area, so we should be able to turn it into how we want it because we are the ones that use it the most.”

GSB president Brian Phillips, senior in political science, said this was an opportunity for students to exert more control over the way Campustown looks.

“Students have a vested interest in the way Campustown looks,” Phillips said. “At the same time, we’re trying to ensure that communication with the city does go on because students aren’t the only users of Campustown. We’re trying to make sure that Campustown residents and business owners are getting involved. “

Along with GSB, members of the Student Society of Landscape Architecture, ISU Horticulture Club and Associated General Contractors of America – Student Chapter are collaborating to help make the project a success.

Ayers said the project is still in the design stage, but with everyone’s help, everything could be completed by May.

“We have said that we would like to get it done this school year,” Ayers said. “We want to get materials ordered by the first of the year and then we can start building right before Veishea.”

One of the ideas that may unfold is turning Campustown Court into a Veishea service project. Ayers said because Veishea committees are still ironing out their details, nothing has been decided on, but it’s a possibility.

While the project is just going to change the image of one corner of Campustown, Ayers believes the future of Campustown as a whole will be a collaboration of the university, city of Ames and the students.

“It’s going to have to be a joint effort between the three groups,” Ayers said. “It’s basically just getting all three groups to work together.”