Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1532159
88 maconmagazine.com | February/March 2025 B E H I N D T H E P A R K S A R E O U R P E O P L E B e h i n d e v e n t s l i k e M a c o n' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l C h e r r y B l o s s o m Fe s t i v a l i s a d e l i c a t e p r o c e s s t o s t e w a rd p u b l i c s p a c e BY MEG DONAHUE | PHOTOS BY DSTO MOORE T he International Cherry Blossom Festival is a highlight on the social calendar of Maconites and tourists alike. From live bands to pancake breakfasts to wiener dog dashes to 5K races, all of these events have been meticulously planned and have special event permits granted by Macon-Bibb County's Parks and Beautification department. How did a department whose mandate is to maintain over 200 county-owned greenspaces, five historic cemeteries, and over 75 passive parks – including the medians on downtown roads such as Third Street Park and Poplar Street Park – take charge of special event permitting as well? The maintenance of greenspaces and permitting of community events aren't as unrelated as you may think, according to department Director Michael Glisson. "I think that all just kind of came to be because a lot of the events happen downtown in the parks that are under my purview. So I guess it's just natural that the event permitting [of] those spaces would come to me" Glisson says. For the past five years Glisson has been the department head of Parks and Beautification. He's a self-described "tree nerd" who originally majored in horticulture at the University of Georgia. After graduation, he moved back to his native Monroe County where he and his wife live on a piece of land given to them by his in-laws. Not that he can spend much time there, with a schedule like his. The Parks and Beautification team starts early, at 6 a.m., and wraps up around 4:30 p.m. Glisson's department of 40 is made up of both maintenance crews and office workers who keep a Monday through Thursday schedule, but Glisson and a skeleton crew of landscapers work on Fridays as well, in case something urgent comes up. The mid-winter period, after the permitting and planning of events like the Macon Christmas Lights ABOVE Cliffview Park is the newest addition to Macon's park portfolio, serving South Macon citizens with picnic tables, a pavilion, trails, and more. LEFT A marker in Third Street Park pays homage to the origin of Macon's famous Yoshino cherry trees. H O W S T U F F W O R K S