Mecklenburg County is Victorious at the "Green Oscars" - International Nations in Bloom competition

Parks & Recreation, May, 2000

When Mark Gillespie left Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 8 for a 22-hour trip across the world, he was tantalized by the prospect of returning with an international trophy.

"The opportunity to represent your county among international peers doesn't come along too often," said Gillespie. "It's great to know we're number one."

Gillespie, division manager of Park Services for the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, along with Peter Tatge, assistant director of Engineering and Building Standards, represented Mecklenburg County at the International Nations in Bloom competition February 10-14 in Hamamatsu, Japan. The international competition promotes environmental management and beautification in urban areas worldwide, and last year, the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department placed second in the contest. According to Gillespie, this year was different.

"Although second was good, we knew we could do better," said Gillespie. "We sharpened our presentation, produced a video that accurately reflected our community, and emphasized both city and county programs."

Dubbed the "Green Oscars" by the world's media, Nations in Bloom divides contestants into classes by population size. Contestants are judged on five criteria, including enhancement of the landscape, heritage management, use of environmentally sensitive practices, community involvement, and planning for the future.

"This award confirms what Mecklenburg County residents have known all along, said Wayne Weston, director of the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department. "This is a community dedicated to preserving its natural beauty."

The international competition requires an initial written application in which applicants must address their communities' observance of each of the criteria. An international panel of judges reviews each submission and selects communities from each class to present their accomplishments at the Nations in Bloom finals. Of 108 applications, 26 finalists from 15 countries were invited to the competition.

This year, the finals were held in Hamamatsu, Japan, where, after a formal presentation from each competitor, the international judging panel asked questions seeking to define each community's commitment to the five judging criteria.

"The competition is rather intimidating," according to Gillespie. "You're speaking to a group of people, who may or may not use English as their first language, in a foreign country more than 7,000 miles from home."

Blossoming Opportunity

Mecklenburg County, one of the United States' fastest growing regions, is a blend of intense urbanization, small towns, clean rivers, pristine waterways, and rural countryside. Although the major urban center of Charlotte is a city containing more than 500,000 residents, the county is also home to more than 178 parks and nature preserves.

"Mecklenburg County is full of tremendous opportunities and challenges," said Gillespie. "We must be sure that the area's growing pains don't affect the quality of our environment."

Open space is rapidly being developed into homes from the growing population, which puts pressure on the community to ensure that the environment remains healthy, that sufficient open space is set aside for future generations' needs, and that the citizens are provided with a beautiful community that reflects a high quality of life. According to Gillespie, these challenges are being met on many levels.

Because the area consists of hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters, the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department's horticultural team has an opportunity to experiment with the landscape by using a variety of plants and landscape configurations.

"We enjoy the ability to include plant selections from both the northern and southern United States," said Gillespie. "Shrubs from different climate zones, such as Camellias, Azaleas, and Rhododendrons, find easy homes here."

The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department's horticultural team maintains a close working relationship with North Carolina State University and tests new plant introductions as part of the university's evaluation process. The horticultural team experiments with a wide variety of tree species, and the Park Urban Reforestation program replenishes the park system's Urban Forest with more than 2,500 whips and seedling trees each year.

Preserving the Past

Diverse plant life isn't all this area has to offer. Mecklenburg County is studded with a deep history. Originally settled by Scots-Irish immigrants from Philadelphia, the town was incorporated in 1768 and named in honor of King George III's wife, Queen Charlotte. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historical Landmarks Commission is responsible for preserving its heritage.

"We're proud of Charlotte's rich history, said Gillespie. "Every effort is being made to ensure that it doesn't get forgotten in the midst of the area's rapid changes and growth."

Two hundred and thirteen historic sites and landmarks have been locally designated. This commission works closely with the continuing restoration of the Rosedale Plantation, the Hezekiah Alexander House, Latta Plantation, the Hugh Torrance House and Store, the Dow House, and many others.