Rutland Garden Club receives prestigious Theresa S. Brungardt Award for public gardens

RUTLAND—The Rutland Garden Club recently accepted the Theresa Brungardt Award at the Vermont Recreation and Parks Conference at Lake Morey Resort, according to a Sept. 23 news release. Rutland Recreation and Parks Department nominated the Rutland Garden Club for the award for its outstanding design and creation of the 22 public gardens throughout Rutland City.
Every year, from spring to fall, dedicated volunteers spend countless hours beautifying Rutland City by planting and weeding throughout the growing season. Some of the more notable public gardens maintained include The Green Mountain Boy at Main Street Park, Depot Park, hanging baskets and planters throughout downtown, Godnick Adult Center and the Blue Star Highway Memorial garden.
The Theresa S. Brungardt Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association. This award was established in 1975 to recognize recreation pioneer  Theresa S. Brungardt,Vermont’s first state director of recreation. She traveled tirelessly throughout Vermont to help communities with their recreation programs. Mrs. Brungardt was nationally recognized for her expertise and in 1952 was elected the first female president of the American Recreation Society. In 1977 she was inducted into the NRPA Hall of Fame.