2024 PGMS Green Star Awards | SSC’s Winning Campuses

October 18, 2024

The PGMS Green Star Awards are an annual event celebrating excellence in grounds management programs across the country. The awards recognize winners in public, private, commercial, and industrial spaces. 2024 marks the eighth year that SSC has received recognition. Four SSC Partner schools were honored with Green Star Grand Awards at the Annual Conference in Louisville, KY. 

 

Grand Award: South Bend Community School Corporation

Category: Athletic Fields

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South Bend Community School Corporation rose above all competition to become the first K12 Public School to win a PGMS Green Star Award in 52 years.  

 

The mission of South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) is to create equitable, inclusive, and just schools to ensure that all students achieve academic and personal success. In recognition of this mission, SSC’s grounds team strives to provide a campus and athletic fields that are safe and aesthetically pleasing, to encourage a sense of pride in the school community. 

SSC took over management of South Bend’s grounds program in 2022. There are seven middle schools and four high schools in the school corporation, and each has a softball field, baseball field, football field, soccer field and track. In order to maintain and improve these fields, the grounds team has put several best practices into place, including: 

    • Mowing all athletic game fields at 1.5 inches, 2-3 times per week using a John Deere 9009 mower to ensure an even cut 
    • Monthly irrigation audits at each of the 19 athletic facilities in the corporation 
    • Application of fresh paint to each field before every game day 

School Field

School Field is a synthetic turf field that serves as one of the main recreational spaces for South Bend Community School Corporation. Many events such as lacrosse, football, soccer, band camps, outside camps and other activities are held on this field throughout the year. Due to consistent, high traffic, the SSC team takes extra measures to ensure the field is always in top shape. The team sweeps the field daily, and brushes it stand the synthetic turf fibers back up and ensure a longer life of the field. 

When there are thin areas on the field, the team applies top-dress with matched rubber to ensure a consistent, safe playing surface. 

Riley High School Soccer Field

The Riley High School Soccer Field is a highly used field within the school corporation.  In order to ensure durability, the SSC Grounds Team applies Nitrogen and Potassium to the field in the fall months to promote a strong spring root system.  

In the spring of 2024, SBCSC hosted a sectional and regional tournament, which resulted in six soccer matches played within four days on this field. In one of the photos, you see an “after” shot – taken after all games had wrapped up. The field was still in incredible shape, which displays how a strong, healthy root system aids the turf in holding up to heavy traffic. 

 

Grand Award: Texas A&M University – San Antonio 

Category: University and College Grounds – Small Campus  

As a proud Hispanic-Serving and Military-Embracing Institution with a predominantly first-generation student population, Texas A&M University – San Antonio’s mission is to transform lives and the community by delivering an education experience that is accessible, inclusive and empowering.  

The campus architecture and landscape reflect the culture and history of San Antonio and South Texas. Elements of Old World and New World Spanish styles are incorporated along with elements of modern conservation to meet LEED Silver standards. Due to years of drought, a strict irrigation schedule of one day per week is implemented to manage all plants on campus. This is accomplished by selecting native drought-tolerant plants that also enhance the Spanish inspired design and flow of campus.  

University Quad

The University Quad is a space that holds many events throughout the year. In order to ensure this space is always ready to welcome visitors, the SSC Grounds Team bases all agronomic plans around soil test results – taken once annually. Core aeration is done as needed to reduce compaction after large events, and the Tifway 419 Bermuda grass Is managed to an APPA 2 level. This area also features rain sensors and a weather-based irrigation system with flow meters to ensure minimal water loss. 

Sustainable Practices

San Antonio follows permanent, year-round water restrictions. Our campus maximizes water conservation with two 55,000-gallon cisterns that collect runoff from the Madla and Central Academic buildings to support the fountain and irrigation system. We employ drip and high-efficiency irrigation heads, and all controllers are equipped with smart technology, weather stations, and flow meters to use only necessary water and shut down if leaks occur.   

Other initiatives include using organic fertilizers whenever possible and planting native pollinators. These plants support our local wildlife and create a beautiful environment for everyone on campus. Informative signs around campus highlight these areas for educational purposes. 

 

Grand Award: Murray State University 

Category: University and College Grounds – Midsize Campus 

Murray State University places the highest priority on student learning and excellent teaching, blending the range of educational opportunities often found at research institutions with the nurturing student-teacher interactions usually found at smaller universities. The goal of the SSC Grounds Department on campus is to provide a campus environment that fosters this mission, with clean, safe and inviting outdoor spaces that are encouraging for students, staff and the community.

Supporting Tradition with the Shoe Tree 

The Shoe Tree is a long-standing tradition at Murray State. When couples who have met on campus get married, they return and nail their shoes to the tree. Keeping this area presentable is a top priority, but also a challenge with shoes consistently falling. Our team recently added a mulch ring around the tree to help it look clean and tidy, and as the shoes fall, members of our grounds team will nail them back to the tree themselves. A replacement program for the tree is also in place – when an old shoe tree is removed, a new tree is planted to replace it. 

Sustainable Support

The Grounds Crew is comprised of two mow teams. One of the mowing teams operates a fully electric crew, with two 60-inch ZTR’s that are electric, as well as edgers, trimmers, and leaf blowers that are battery operated. This crew focuses their attention on core academic areas to reduce noise.  

The SSC Grounds Department also facilitates the universities recycling program. Cardboard and paper are collected daily and a Community Recycle Day is held once per month for community members to drop off recyclable items. The Grounds Crew offloads items, separates them and bales them for pickup. 

 

Grand Award: Texas A&M University – Aggie Park 

Category: Parks, Recreation, or Playgrounds 

Texas A&M University’s mission is to engage the community in a living teaching environment and inspire curiosity and discovery in the natural world. The SSC Grounds Team on campus supports this mission with unparalleled grounds management services that prioritize the stewardship of the campus environment. 

Caring for the Pond

Caring for the pond is crucial, and involves tasks such as managing algae growth, ensuring adequate aeration, and regularly monitoring water quality. All of these factors are essential for maintaining the health of the aquatic ecosystem. The pond exemplifies the park’s commitment to ecological stewardship, and is periodically stocked with diverse game fish, inviting both students and community members to enjoy catch-and-release activities. Meanwhile, Turk’s Cap and Muhly Grasses are cultivated to create a meadow-like ambience throughout Aggie Park.

Freels Family Field and Lafield Plaza 

Freels Family Field and Lafield Plaza is beautifully manicured and leads to the majestic Kyle Field, where the War Hymn Statue greets all visitors. The Over-Cup Oaks lie both sides of the Tif-Tuff fields.

This area is a popular spot for groups to set up booths or tables during events. In the afternoon, the sun falls behind Kyle Field and creates a beautiful hue on the lawn and tree foliage.  

 

 

Congratulations to all SSC Grounds Teams and campuses recognized for their excellence this year at the 2024 Professional Grounds Management Society’s Green Star Awards. For more information on SSC Grounds Management services, check out our grounds service page.

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