GREENEVILLE – Tusculum University and the Greeneville Lions Club have teamed to further beautify the campus with the planting of gorgeous flowers outside Pioneer Park.
Susan Price holds some of the flowers that were planted.
Garrett Hensley plants flowers.
Three club members joined representatives of the Tusculum Facilities Management Department and the general manager of the Greeneville Flyboys Monday, May 13, to plant red and white vinca flowers in the elevated circular grass by the ticket booth and gates. The park is the home for the university’s baseball team and the Flyboys, a member of the Appalachian League.
“One of the things Lions International focuses on is the environment and helping in the community,” said Nancy Southerland, the club’s secretary. “We felt we could conduct a beautification project. Plus, we wanted to find ways we could partner with Tusculum.”
Southerland comes to ballgames at the park, and her husband works during the Flyboys’ season. She said they noticed that part of the campus has not had flowers of late.
“We thought the flower planting would be a good project to get us and Tusculum working together as well as fulfill some of our club’s principles and support the Flyboys,” Southerland said. “We just figured it would be a good community thing to do. It makes the space look as if it is finished. This has gone so smoothly with everybody helping.”
Joining Southerland from the club were Susan Price, vice president, and Garrett Hensley, a director.
In all, the group planted about 400 flowers, which came from Sunnyhill Greenhouse, a local business. Some of the nice attributes about the vincas are their hardiness and ability to bloom until the fall, she said. Southerland said the flowers outside the park will grow and add to the campus’ ambience for visitors to that area, including potential new students.
“We are extremely grateful to the Lions Club for its thoughtfulness in including the university in its outreach efforts,” said Carrie Maggert, Tusculum’s vice president of operations. “This project provided some beautiful color to that part of campus and will delight our guests at the park. We value our connections with the community and are thrilled we were able to collaborate with the Lions Club on this initiative.”
Nancy Southerland waters the flowers.
Representatives of Tusculum University, the Greeneville Lions Club and the Greeneville Flyboys planted the flowers outside Pioneer Park. Left to right are Susan Price, Nancy Southerland, Garrett Hensley, Todd Hertel, Carrie Maggert, Chad Grindstaff, Matt Bible and Brandon Bouschart.
The planting is timely because the Flyboys’ season will take off Tuesday, June 4, at Pioneer Park. Brandon Bouschart, the team’s general manager, appreciated what everyone accomplished at the facility.
“We are extremely excited and thankful for Tusculum University and the Greeneville Lions Club for coming together and making the place the Greeneville Flyboys call home even more special,” he said.
In addition to this initiative, the Lions Club is assisting the university with the Pioneer Exchange, a food pantry and clothing closet on campus. It provides groceries, residence hall supplies, textbooks, school supplies hygiene products and clothing for students needing assistance.
To learn more about the local Lions Club, please visit https://greenevillelions.org/. Information about the university is available at www.tusculum.edu. Details about the Flyboys can be accessed at https://www.appyleague.com/greeneville/.