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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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