D&E recently knocked down three buildings to make the green space.

President Buck Smith said the college would use the money for landscaping and lighting and to add new signage and seating areas.

"It's an opportunity for us to enhance the green space in the community," he said. "It connects the college and Elkins in a way that it's not been able to before because there used to be buildings there and properties we didn't own."

Smith said the college would use some of the money to create ADA-compliant walkways from the Madden Student Center to Liberal Arts Hall and the Booth Library bridge.