Dexter Lawns, areas of Mott Lawn and patches of grass by the University Union have been recently closed off with yellow tape.
According to Cal Poly Spokesperson Matt Lazier, Landscape Services has been closing off high-traffic areas in recent weeks to protect the lawns from damage due to the rain.
These closures have caused difficulties for organizations that hold club meetings and activities on the lawn.
Biological sciences senior Isabel Weibel, a member of the Cal Poly Yoga Club, wrote in an email to Mustang News that the club still has a small space on Dexter Lawn for their meetings during University Hour, but the slope has posed difficulties.
Dexter Lawn has been a space where clothing vendors set up shop for students and faculty to come buy their items. Business administration sophomore Javier Piñon, who runs Junk Trunk alongside the other clothing booth, All-star Vision, stated that he cannot set up in their usual spot on the bigger side of the lawn during the lawn closure.
“That’s where most of the foot traffic is and it was just way more space for people to set up, so being [on the smaller part of the lawn] has just felt cramped and kind of sucks,” said Piñon.
Several student organizations, of which there are over 400, have had to adjust their booth locations due to limited space left over from the closures on Dexter Lawn.
When the Indian Student Association (ISA) was fundraising, they moved to the dirt area by the Math and Science Building (building 38) because space was too limited on Dexter Lawn and there was another club close by.
“People definitely still found our booth but I feel like it was slightly less effective because most people are used to seeing all of the setups happen on Dexter Lawn and not in the dirt area where we were. So it might have deterred people from coming to our booth,” said ISA board member and psychology sophomore Riya Mahtaney.
However, not all club booths report being affected by the lawn closure.
Business administration major Joy Yeo, a member of the Beta Epsilon Pledge Class, noted that the lawn closure did not seriously impact their fundraiser, Pie a Psi.
“We didn’t want any of the shaving cream to get on the lawn, so just having the concrete is good for us,” Yeo said.
Business administration major junior Alisha Lin sells jewelry and accessories on Dexter Lawn. Lin said it hasn’t really affected her business personally, but larger events run by groups like the Sustainable Fashion Club and CP Green Campuses have been affected because most of the vendors can’t find spaces.