In compliance with a campaign promise from Rob Wiese and Matt McLaren, president and vice president of the Government of the Student Body, the GSB senate has proposed a bill to restore and beautify the Lake LaVerne area.

“We need a showpiece of ISU — something to be proud of,” Wiese said.

He said the GSB special projects account will fund half of the renovation, and the other half will come from the university.

“We’ve had about $140,000 in the account sitting for years, so we decided we may as well do something with it,” Wiese said.

The cost of the project is estimated at $66,000, and any leftovers of GSB’s $33,000 contribution will return to the special projects account, he said.

Rachel Allbaugh, GSB director of intramurals and recreation, resumed the renovation project this year by consulting the ISU planning and management officials to begin work on the area.

The proposed renovations will feature a paved path on the south side of the lake and a donor plaza on the northeast shore.

Also, benches will be scattered along the paths.

The donor plaza will be made of granite and will include benches and a variety of plant life.

Ryan Glanzer, GSB chief of staff, said the plaza will serve as a tribute to contributors.

“It lists the names of those who put money into Lake LaVerne,” Glanzer said.

The paved path will cover the muddy shortcut between Welch and Stanton Avenues, and the path running alongside the lake will be made of crushed limestone.

A barbecue area was discussed, but Wiese said it would not be included in the plans.

“It would be nice, but people will probably abuse it,” he said.

Wiese added that disrespect of the area surrounding Lake LaVerne is a concern.

“Some people will probably want to vandalize it. The only thing you can do is try to catch them and fine them heavily,” he said.

Wiese said the project would be a learning experience for ISU students interested in helping.

“I hope [the bill] goes through,” he said. “We really need something done, especially with a university full of landscape architecture and horticulture people,” he said.

He said the improvements also would be an educational advantage for some students.

“It’s possible the landscape architecture department would use it as a lab for people to work on urban ponds. It will actually give them something to work with right on campus,” Wiese said.

At GSB’s request, the landscape architecture department pitched in on renovation designs, Glanzer said.

“They took what we wanted to have done and came up with some plans,” he said.

The renovations would not be the only improvements made to Lake LaVerne in recent years.

The lake was drudged and cleaned out two years ago, and an aerator was added for trumpeter swans Lancelot and Elaine. An island also was added, and the swans’ pen was redone.

The senate will vote on the bill at Wednesday’s meeting.

If it passes, construction will likely begin this summer and is expected to be completed by fall, Glanzer said.