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Sustainability

Generating solar power, creating green spaces: the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park at Miami University

Take a look at the progress of the park and solar fields since last year. Construction continues, with the park opening in spring 2026.

by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published
The Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park and Solar Fields , helping Miami reach carbon neutrality by 2040 rendering of a park path and gateway
Rendering of the primary gateway to the park, situated on Miami's Western campus (Western Upper Pond pictured at right) and visible from State Route 73.
Sustainability

Generating solar power, creating green spaces: the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park at Miami University

Rendering of the primary gateway to the park, situated on Miami's Western campus (Western Upper Pond pictured at right) and visible from State Route 73.
by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published

Construction of the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park at Miami University continues with the installation of walking paths, seating areas, lighting, a primary gateway facing State Route 73, and a secondary gateway facing Western Drive. 

Installation of more than 3,330 solar panels in two ground-mount solar photovoltaic (PV) fields was completed in August. All equipment is expected to be in place by late November, when the two solar arrays will start producing around 2,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually.

The opening of the park is expected in spring 2026. 

Take a look at the progress of the park since the "Flipping the Switch" groundbreaking event was celebrated with donors Sharon Janosik Mitchell ’73 and Graham Mitchell ’73, M.En. ’76 on Sept. 24, 2024. 

Graham and Sharon Mitchell stand next to a large beveled M near western upper pond
Graham and Sharon Mitchell stand at the site of the upcoming Sustainability Park and Solar Fields during the 'Flipping the Switch" event last year (photo by Jeff Sabo).
Will Sayner speaks to an audience in an event tent
Will Sayner, senior Botany major and Environmental Science co-major and a student assistant in the Office of Sustainability, addresses the audience at the "Flipping the Switch" event September 2024 (photo by Jeff Sabo).
Solar panel racks on the Thomson field with a sunspot overhead
Installation of the racking for the ground mount solar panels began in May 2025. The Thomson (south) field is pictured here, at the site of the former Thomson residence hall which was removed in January (photo by Scott Kissell).
A worker lifts a solar panel onto a ground mounted rack in the western geothermal solar field
Solar panel placement at the Western Geothermal Solar Array. Here a ballast type mount is used due to the geothermal wells below. The western geothermal well field, constructed in 2014, comprises 690 wells, 600 feet deep (photo by Scott Kissell).
A group of Miami, City of Oxford, and City of Fairfield representatives pose near a solar panel
Olivia Herron, Miami’s sustainability director; Alex Miller, sustainability engagement coordinator, Green Umbrella Sustainability Fellows, and representatives from the City of Fairfield and the City of Oxford toured the solar fields which were designed and built by Cincinnati-based Melink Solar (photo by Joel Fellman).
Drone view of the 2 solar arrays at the future Sustainability Park. 3300 solar panels in 2 fields behind the geothermal plant and child development center and next to Boyd Hall on Western Drive
Solar arrays in the Sustainability Park. The park construction continues with installation of the walking paths, seating areas, lighting, and gateways, and will open in spring 2026 (photo by Melink Solar).
Drone view of the solar fields. The Sustainability Park will encompass the fields (video by Melink Solar).