Peabody Park
Summary
Peabody Park is a UNCG owned 34 acre park that is located on the northern side of the UNCG campus where North Drive on the south, Grey Drive on the west, West Market Street on the north, and McIver Street on the east. The park consists of a mixed forest, two running creeks as well as the UNCG amphitheater and a small golf course.
History
In 1901, George Foster Peabody, made a donation of $10,000 to UNCG with half of it going with the gift of the 125 acre Peabody Park, named in honor of his relative George Peabody, who was a famous philanthropist. George Foster Peabody was a personal friend of founder of UNCG and first UNCG President, Charles McIver.
Warren Manning designed Peabody park, who was a protégé of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted who designed New York’s Central Park.
Led by Dr. Anna Gove, students were originally required to take daily health walks through the park.
Between 2003-2005, the park was renovated with new bridges and walkways built while roads were moved all to better preserve the space. Now half of the UNCG campus sits where part of the park used to be.
Activities
A range of eco activities take place at Peabody Park. They include removing invasive plants and replacing them with native ones, tree planting, prairie planting & stream restoration.
Species
Peabody Park hosts a wide variety of species. Tree species include oak, maple, beech and native to North Carolina species including shortleaf pine and redbud.
Herb species include wild ginger and horsetail.
Animal species includes Eastern chipmunks, beavers, muskrats, the grey fox, the Southern Flying Squirrel, the Belted Kingfisher, the broad-winged Hawk, the ruby-throated hummingbird and the Yellow-Crested Night Heron.
