A family whose ties to Western Kentucky University date back to the 1920’s…have donated land to WKU that will impact students for generations to come.

In this week’s View from the Hill, Amy Bingham takes us to the dedication of the McChesney Field Campus.

Hardin Field McChesney was a WKU professor from the late 1920’s until 1959.  Six of his nine children graduated from Western and moved away.
When the dream of building a reunion home on the family’s Warren County property didn’t materialize…McChesney’s children found the perfect way to honor their father’s memory.
 
“It just seemed a natural and obvious thing to do, we had this land which my father certainly cherished.”

Field McChesney Junior moved back to Bowling Green in 2003 after being away for more than 50 years.
He approached Western about donating this 140 acres of land located along the Green River in North Warren County.
 
“It’s perfectly situated in so many ways.”

Dr. Terry Wilson from the Center for Environmental Education and sustainability says having a resource like this only fifteen minutes from campus creates endless educational opportunities.
 
“It borders the Green River, most of the area is forested…lots of opportunities to put in trails.”
 
“I think more than anything it’s a matter of looking at what’s here through a variety of lenses.”

Field McChesney Junior and his nearly 95 year old sister Mary Frances Kindell were among the many family members on hand for the dedication.
They are thrilled to honor their father with such a lasting and far-reaching initiative.
 
“We hope that everybody on the hill…ever discipline, every department will figure out some way to utilize it.”

A strategic plan is being developed for the McChesney Field Campus and some service learning projects could take place on sight as early as this fall.

Meanwhile, the McChesney’s have no doubt they made the right decision.
 
“Why not give it to Western which had been such a big part of whatever we’d done.’

Dr. Wilson says the outdoor learning environment of the McChesney Field Campus is just another way WKU is taking the lead statewide in sustainability issues.

With this week’s View from the Hill, I’m Amy Bingham.