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. Construction continues, with the park opening in April

by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published 3/10/26

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

Take a look at the progress of the park and solar fields. Construction continues, with the park opening in April

by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published 3/10/26

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

Installation of more than 3,330 solar panels in two ground-mount solar photovoltaic (PV) fields was completed in August, and other equipment was in place by late November.

The two solar arrays will start producing around 2,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually, when the park opens next month.

This week Miami received the Climate Luminary Honors award from Second Nature, for exemplary climate leadership in decarbonization, in recognition of the park.

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 (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 Western South Solar array is pictured here (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 North 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

Western Solar South and North arrays in the Sustainability Park. The park construction continues with installation of the walking paths, seating areas, lighting, and gateways, and will open later in April (photo by Melink Solar).

sustainability park path and a solar light post

A section of the South Loop path through the park in early March. The solar-powered lights were recently installed (photo by Scott Kissell).

Drone view of the solar fields. The Sustainability Park will encompass the fields (video by Melink Solar).

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