Don’t be surprised if the area north of Kresge Library looks a little different this fall.

Oakland University’s student congress is planning an outdoor initiative for the area, which will include a new 2,300 square foot sidewalk and plaza, complete with picnic tables, benches and hammocks.

The outdoor initiative also calls for an information kiosk near the new plaza and additional hammocks near Bear Lake.

Student body president Brandon Gustafson said that OUSC, a directly-funded student organization, has pledged over $10,300 of its summer budget to help fund the outdoor initiative program.

Gustafson said that additional funding will come from OU’s president, Gary Russi, and vice president for student affairs, Mary Beth Snyder.

Ted Montgomery, director of media relations, said that President Russi has agreed to fund $13,000 for the sidewalk, plus $2,871 in contingency. Montgomery said that Dr. Snyder agreed to fund $1,800 for picnic tables and $925 for hammocks. OUSC will fund the kiosk and additional hammocks. The unfunded items are the plaza work and benches.

Gustafson plans to meet with university officials later this week to finalize the details of the funding.

The entire project is expected to cost $43,011.

Gustafson said that despite the project’s cost, it’s worthwhile because the sidewalk and plaza will be around for a long time.

“It’s a big project that costs quite a bit of money, but it’s a permanent project,” Gustafson said.

Gustafson said that he helped plan the project with the university’s grounds department, and that he hopes to have the project completed by the fall.