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Friendly Version  PGMS News PGMS
Salutes Grounds Management Excellence The
Professional Grounds Management Society has recognized 22 grounds
management programs for excellence in the Society's 2002 Green Star
Awards Competition. The 30th Annual Awards were presented in Nashville,
TN during PGMS' Annual Conference held in conjunction with the Green
Industry Exposition.
Overall,
PGMS presented 11 Grand Awards, its highest honor, as well as 11
Honor Awards in 11 categories of competition. The
PGMS Green Star Awards program is conducted in cooperation with
Landscape Management Magazine. Ellen Newell, a
Certified Grounds Manager (CGM), from Utah State University in Logan,
UT, served as this year's awards chairperson. Joining her on the
Awards Committee were Stephanie DeStephano of American University
in Washington, DC, and Vicki Killian, CGM, of the Patterson Club
in Fairfield, CT. This
year's awards brought about a new meaning to the phase, "school's
in session," as eleven of the total award winners were schools
or universities. Leading this trend were three Grand Award winners
in the School or University Grounds category: Grand Valley
State University, Illinois State University, and University of Mississippi. Located
12 miles west of Grand Rapids, MI, the main campus of Grand Valley
State University consists of 897 acres. The natural land structure
of the campus is formed by deep, wooded ravines penetrating a high
bluff overlooking the Grand River and gently rolling open fields.
Only 15 miles from lake effects of Lake Michigan, snow removal is
a critical issue for the University's grounds professionals led
by Ken Stanton, CGM. The
campus of Illinois State University also was presented with
a Grand Award in the School or University Grounds category. The
campus features over 400 trees of 80 different species in the School
Quad alone, which is a testament to the dream of founding father
John Fell's to fill the campus with every type of tree that flourishes
in the state. It is also a testimonial to the school's grounds management
team led by Mike O'Grady, CGM, and Darcy Loy.
The
final Grand Award winner in this category was the University
of Mississippi located in Oxford, MS. Encompassing nearly 1,000
acres, the campus is dominated by stately magnolias, dogwoods, and
oaks. Special challenges faced by the grounds crew include developing
low-maintenance natural areas and maintaining campus beauty and
integrity after home football games where an average of 50,000 Rebel
fans generate over 200 cubic yards of litter. Jeff McManus accepted
the award for the university. PGMS
presented two Grand Awards in the Government Building or Complex
Category. The
first was given to the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Managed
and maintained by TruGreen Land Care, this 19-acre site features
47,000 sq. ft of beautiful display beds complicated by heavy foot
traffic and frequent special events. The
second Government Complex Grand Award was bestowed upon the George
Bush Presidential Library in College Station, TX. Tom Dew, superintendent
for landscape and pavements maintenance, heads this winning grounds
management team in caring for 75 acres of turf and 22 acres of woody
ornamentals as well as a two-acre reflecting pond. Winner
of the PGMS Grand Award in the Cemetery or Memorial Park competition
was the Woodside Cemetery and Arboretum in Middletown, OH.
Established in 1891, this majestic site features over 275 different
species of trees and shrubs, each identified by scientific and common
name with the goal of teaching the public about plants native to
the Ohio area. Accepting the award for Woodside was Brad Dreier. PGMS
also presented two Grand Awards in its Industrial or Office Park
competition category. Located
in Greenwood Village, CO, Grand Award recipient Highland Park
is a ten-acre site featuring four ponds and a series of seven dams.
A popular attraction for joggers and walkers, this beautiful site
is maintained by Co-Cal Landscape of Denver, CO. Also
saluted with a Grand Award in the Industrial or Office Park category
was the Longaberger Home Office in Newark, OH. The site requires
significant care year-round including snow removal in the winter
and maintenance of broad sweeping beds of seasonally demonstrative
plant materials imitating the patterns of the company's colorful
designer fabric. Accepting the award on behalf of Longaberger was
Jason Jordan. Atlanta's
Post Gardens Apartment Homes captured a Grand Award in the
Condominium, Apartment Complex or Planned Community category.
The hallmarks of this nine-acre community are its eight theme gardens
located around the main courtyard. Allen Kelly and Kevin Hostetler
were present to accept the award. In
the Hotel, Motel or Resort category, The Breakers
was presented with a Grand Award. This hotel resort's grounds professionals
blend over 100 years of tradition and history with continually
enhanced botanical grounds that are constantly under the guests'
microscopes. Gerry Hillier and Katrina Solomon of The Breakers'
grounds management team received the award. The
final Grand Award winner was the Grand Ole Opry in the Amusement
or Theme Park category. The Grand Ole Opry House landscape and
grounds maintenance staff is responsible for interior plants, and
overall cleanliness of the exterior of the buildings including gutters,
windows, sidewalks and light fixtures in the plaza. Mac Smith was
on hand to receive the award on the staff's behalf.
In
addition to these nine outstanding Grand Award recipients, PGMS
presented eleven Green Star Honor Awards for 2002. They include: Small
Site Category - The grounds of Ingram Entertainment Headquarters
as managed by AAA Lawn Industries of Nashville, TN. Public
Works Site Category - The Hollywood, Florida Business District
as submitted by Calvin Taylor of the City of Hollywood, FL. School
or University Grounds Category
- The West Harrison Campus of the Cincinnati State College as submitted
by Ray Mirizzi; the University of Montana's 300-acre campus managed
by Keith Lukas; the 930-acre Texas Tech University campus; Multnomah
Bible Urban
University Grounds Category - The Cincinnati State Technical
and Community College is a unique 40-acre, urban-based campus sitting
atop one hill. Ray Mirizzi leads this talented crew which excels
despite the challenges of working mostly in a hillside environment;
and the campus of the University of San Francisco in the heart of
the city's downtown business district.
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