Purdue Grounds Department receives award for best maintained grounds and landscapes

This is one of several photos submitted to the Professional Grounds Management Society for the 2019 PGMS Green Star Awards. This photo shows the crew at work on Purdue’s campus. (Photo courtesy of Purdue University/Robin Kiefer) Download image

The Purdue University Grounds Department has received an Honor Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) for the 2019 PGMS Green Star Awards.

PGMS members strive to advance their profession through education and professional development. The society’s annual awards program provides national recognition for some of the best maintained grounds and landscapes.

Purdue competed in the University and College Grounds category. Several campus photos were submitted, representing the overall beauty of landscaping, crews at work and challenges faced in maintaining sites.

The Grounds Department is made up of 78 full-time employees who are responsible for maintaining 996 acres across campus with a $5 million general operating budget. That includes 21.3 million square feet of planting beds, 6.5 million square feet of turf and 7.4 million square feet of paved areas.

The award was formally presented to the department Oct. 17 at the Annual Awards Dinner in Louisville, Kentucky.