"M" Circle

38.9876°N 76.9400°W / 38.9876; -76.9400

University of Maryland, College Park campus

"M" Circle

The "M" Circle is a commemorative traffic circle on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. Created in 1976 to celebrate the American Bicentennial, the circle is noted for the large floral "M" that sits in its center.^[1] The flowers that make up the "M" are replaced twice annually, red 'Vodka' begonias are planted each spring for the warmer months and replaced with yellow pansies each fall.

In the past, the M had been planted with flowers other than pansies and begonias. One year 1,200 tulip bulbs were planted in the fall and after blooming were replaced with around 3,500 marigolds or vodka begonias in the spring.^[1][2] In 1986 and 1987, the graduating classes donated funds for lighting the M.^[3]

As part of the construction of the Purple Line route through campus, "M" Circle was relocated. The new "M" Circle is no longer in the middle of a traffic circle and instead sits as a mound on the campus's Engineering Fields, across the street from its original site.^[4] Work on the new circle was completed in 2020.^[3]

The original "M" Circle in October 2010 planted with yellow pansies.

References

1. "M". MAC to Millennium. Archived from the original on 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
2. "University of Maryland, Conferences and Visitors Services: Campus Attractions". University of Maryland. Archived from the original on 2010-05-29. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
3. Krakower, Annie (2020-08-25). "M-oving Forward". Maryland Today. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
4. Atelsek, Jillian (2018-05-04). "UMD's M Circle Will Be Rebuilt in a New Location to Accommodate Purple Line Construction". The Diamondback. College Park, Maryland. Retrieved 2022-10-10.