PGMS® Presents the 50th Annual Green Star Awards® to Grounds Professionals

The Professional Grounds Management Society® (PGMS®) has recognized 29 grounds management programs for excellence in the  2022 Green Star Awards® Competition. PGMS® announced the 50th annual awards during the “Golden Jubilee” Awards Celebration held on Oct. 20 in conjunction with the 2022 School of Grounds Management Annual Conference & Equip Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky, during the week of Oct. 18-21.

This awards program brings national recognition to grounds maintained with a high degree of excellence. The Green Star Awards® competition complements other national landscape award programs that recognize outstanding landscape design and construction. During the awards celebration, PGMS® presented nine Grand Awards, its highest honor, as well as 19 Honor Awards and one Merit Award in twelve categories of competition.

In the Hospital or Institution category, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey,  Pennsylvania, received a Grand Award.

In the Athletic Complex category, Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, received a Grand Award;  University of Arizona – Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Arizona,  received an Honor Award; and Tropical Regional Park in Miami, Florida, received a Merit Award.

In the Parks, Recreation Area, or Playground category, the City of Norman Parks in Norman, Oklahoma, received an Honor Award.

Miami Dade County Parks, Recreation and  Open Spaces Kendall and Special Assessment District in Miami, Florida and Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, received an Honor Award  in the Public Works Site category.

In the Small Site category, Texas A&M University Military Walk in College Station, Texas, received a Grand Award.

In the School Grounds category, The Athenian School in Danville, California, received a Grand Award; Charleston County School District in North Charleston, South Carolina, received an Honor Award; and Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts, received an Honor Award.

A Grand Award in the University and College Grounds – Small category was presented to Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, received an Honor Award. 

Six campuses were honored in the University and College Grounds - Mid-Size category.  A Grand Award was presented to the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Honor Awards were given to Texas Christian Univerity in Fort Worth, Texas; Texas Woman’s University System - Denton & Dallas Campuses in Denton, Texas; North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina; the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York; and Elon University in Elon, North Carolina. 

In the University and College Grounds – Large category, Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, received a Grand Award; the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, received an Honor Award.

In the Urban University Grounds category, the Grand Award was given to American University in Washington, D.C., and the Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina,  was presented an Honor Award.

The Olmsted Properties category is new in 2022, and five properties were honored in this category. A Grand Award was presented to The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  Honor Awards were given to Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C.; Denison University in Granville, Ohio; Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; and the State of Washington Capitol Campus in Olympia, Washington.

PGMS®  is proud to award its members for sustainable environmental efforts. PGMS®  members have consistently applied best practices and standards regarding the stewardship of our environment. This year, The Athenian School received the third Grounds Sustainability Award. The Athenian School is an exemplary college-preparatory school in Danville, California, implementing several initiatives to conserve natural resources and protect local ecosystems. Examples of The Athenian School’s sustainability include: systematically replacing gasoline-powered equipment through attrition for electric equivalents; utilizing natural weed killer, fertilizers, and an integrated pest management vendor to maintain campus grounds and protect local wildlife; using reclaimed woodchips; reducing water usage; disposing of landscape debris through a dedicated green waste stream; employing waste streams to manage compostable waste, garbage, and recyclables; and use of ECO-Goats to control natural vegetative growth and keep a defined fire break for potential forest fires.