Courier

Media Credit: Jenny Bartlett The 46 plaques, each planted at the foot of a single Carrotwood tree surrounding the Mirror Pools, correspond to a list of sponsors and donors from the 1980s.

Vast green lawns, rows of trees and a still, glass-like surface that holds a clear reflection of the college ensure that the Mirror Pools rarely go unnoticed by anyone walking around campus or strolling down Colorado Boulevard.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors alike revel in the joys of napping or reading on the front lawn; strumming a guitar in the cool shade of the trees; goofing around with friends between classes; or retreating from the concrete and crowds.

However, along the rows of trees lie little unobtrusive numbers that are disregarded by most.

Architecture major Clifford Hong jokingly declared that the numbers represent a secret code that would lead one to find the key to eternal life.

"A crazy scientist developed a formula that would make people live forever," said Hong. "He was scared that people would come after him so he hid parts of the formula in the DNA of the trees and numbered them."

Christina Rose from PCC's Publications Office has a more official explanation.

"In the early 80s, the previous trees got old and either died or were damaging the mirror pools and paths," she said. "It was decided to remove all trees and start over with a set of Carrotwoods."

According to Rose, the numbers correspond to the names of tree sponsors and donors who are listed on a plaque at the head of the smaller pool.

The pools were originally built in the 1930s when the C, D and E Buildings were reconstructed after the Long Beach earthquake left them in shambles.

Due to damage from the roots of the original carob trees, the Mirror Pools began to crack and leak. It became a source of financial headache when it seemed that the school was pouring more money into its maintenance than water into the pools.

According to Courier newspaper archives, in the early 80s, when it looked like there was no hope left for the pools, a Board of Trustees member suggested removing them altogether and turning the front lawn into another parking lot to help alleviate PCC's parking problems.

After many months of debate, a restoration project for the Mirror Pools began. Two waterproof layers-one concrete and the other plaster-were laid to prevent future leaking, and the new Carrotwood trees were planted with concrete barriers buried four feet underground to prevent their roots from once again damaging the pools.

The new design also featured a filtration system so that the pools would not have to be cleaned and refilled so often.

"I can't even imagine this school without the Mirror Pools," said Hong. "It's like a chocolate shake with no ice cream."

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