March 2023

Written By Guest User

Volume 21 | Issue 8

Maintenance

Maintenance comes in all forms—spring cleanup, facilities, water slides and pools, vandalism and graffiti removal—the list is endless and the job is sometimes thankless. We salute the teams of people who dedicate their time to making parks and rec facilities cleaner, safer, and more comfortable. The industry wouldn’t be the same without you.

 
 
 
 
 
 

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Parks & Rec Business is written by parks and recreation directors and staff. If you’re in the industry, PRB is an amazing resource that’s full of real-world experience that you can use to solve problems, create new opportunities, and keep your community healthy and happy.

 
 
 
 
 

This Month’s Articles

Featured
Renovation Vs. New Construction
Erica DiCioccio
Renovation Vs. New Construction
Erica DiCioccio

Continued facility maintenance and upkeep are an essential part of an effective operations strategy, but inevitably, a department will need to choose between renovating existing facilities or building new ones; which option is better depends on a variety of factors.

Erica DiCioccio
Solving For Vandalism
Jefferey Spivey
Solving For Vandalism
Jefferey Spivey

Many park-maintenance duties are of the standard variety. Repair needs surface after inclement weather, trails degrade from prolonged, heavy use, historic sites require more care with age, and the list goes on.

Jefferey Spivey
A Lesson In History
Anne Radford
A Lesson In History
Anne Radford

St. Louis County Parks is in the process of moving and reconstructing a significant building to the Historic Village at Faust Park. This year marks the 129th anniversary of Missouri’s oldest-surviving, one-room schoolhouse.

Anne Radford
Where The Metals Meet
Linda Mastaglio
Where The Metals Meet
Linda Mastaglio

The 24-acre Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex at Rancho Cienega Park fills an important need in South Los Angeles, providing quality public-recreation and fitness amenities for a population of approximately 100,000 people. The complex, which opened in June 2022, is a tribute to the former First Lady and President, who held his first Los Angeles-area campaign rally in the park.

Linda Mastaglio
We Bought A Golf Course
Taylor Baxter
We Bought A Golf Course
Taylor Baxter

On February 2, 2021, the Pontiac City Council voted to purchase the Pontiac Elks Club property. In Illinois, golf unofficially begins in mid-March, weather-dependent, which gave us roughly two months to open the facility as a public golf course.

Taylor Baxter
Learn How To Landscape Responsibly
Margaret Pickoff
Learn How To Landscape Responsibly
Margaret Pickoff

In many parts of the country, fall and spring typically deliver lots of rain. The fate of all that rainwater depends on the surface where the rain happens to fall.

Margaret Pickoff
Appreciative Inquiry
Brian “BK” Koehler
Appreciative Inquiry
Brian “BK” Koehler

Research across industries suggests that negativity often leads to negative outcomes, and costs money in the long term. In an effort to improve operational efficiencies, perhaps traditional problem-solving approaches may not be the best method.

Brian “BK” Koehler
Part Of The Team
John Engh
Part Of The Team
John Engh

One of my most vivid memories of being a volunteer coach came on the last day of coaching my daughter’s 5- and 6-year-old soccer team years ago. I had never played soccer, but the team needed coaches, and I was really interested in applying some of the things I had learned in working almost 10 years for an organization dedicated to improving the volunteer youth-sports coaching experience.

John Engh
Lighten Up
Ron Ciancutti
Lighten Up
Ron Ciancutti

While wandering through a gift shop recently, I came upon a shelf full of mugs and miniature trophies. Each was emblazoned with a bold line that read, “World’s Greatest Dad.”

Ron Ciancutti
Foggy Mornings
Rodney Auth
Foggy Mornings
Rodney Auth

Steam rose slowly from the lake as I ambled to the office. As I passed our lakefront park, I watched the parks grounds crew mowing the wet grass, edging the sidewalks, and blowing the debris into piles to be loaded to the back of their truck.

Rodney Auth
This-N-That
Guest User
This-N-That
Guest User

A collection of news items, product announcements and event notices designed to keep you on the cutting edge.

Guest User
Calendar
Guest User
Calendar
Guest User

Industry events you won’t want to miss. Check out what’s coming up.

Guest User
 
 
 
 

Product Review

Product Reviews
Percussion Play Liberty Bells
Percussion Play Liberty Bells

Reminiscent of small grassland mushrooms, the aluminum musical bells—tuned to the pentatonic C-major scale—“sing” when struck with the attached mallets. The stainless-steel “gill” on the underside of the cap completes the look. The cluster of six powder-coated conical “caps” in bright colors and wiggly-shaped stainless-steel “stems” positioned at different heights and angles is an eye-catching piece that will quickly become an instant favorite.

www.percussionplay.com

Hilltip SweepAway Push Broom Attachments
Hilltip SweepAway Push Broom Attachments

Offered in multiple sizes from 59 to 118 inches wide, the push brooms are available in a light series with eight brush rows or a medium series with 12 brush rows. Featuring polypropylene bristles, the replaceable brush rows are easy to change and clean. Additionally, the brooms contain no moving parts, resulting in practically no maintenance requirements.

www.hilltipna.com

CoreMax48
CoreMax48

This aeration core collection unit is designed to not only save time and labor but also overcome weather dynamics such as inclement weather and saturated conditions. Its revolutionary design collects cores without them touching the ground, saving maintenance crews from the back-breaking work of constant shoveling. Recuperative capacity of the turf is enhanced, accelerating the return of playable conditions. Unlike other core collection units, the CoreMax48 can back up on golf greens and navigate most architectural undulations.

https://turfmeetstechnology.com/

Playworld Quito Freestanding Net Climber
Playworld Quito Freestanding Net Climber

Inspired by Quito, Ecuador, the world’s second-highest capital city and the closest to the equator, the daring Quito climber is a towering 15.54 feet tall, allowing kids to climb, balance, and teeter their way in, over, and through the structure. With multiple points of entry, Quito includes an easy passage to the center core, as well as a cozy space underneath. It is available as a standalone product or in conjunction with Playworld’s Mighty Descent, an 8-foot-tall, extra-wide, innovative slide that allows multiple children to revel in the joy of sliding together.

www.Playworld.com

AGS EdgeRider Mini Golf
AGS EdgeRider Mini Golf

EdgeRider Mini Golf is the name of a new pre-designed nine- or 18-hole portable modular mini golf course featuring a new miniature golf ball edge transfer system. The courses feature the new edge technology applied to a patented interlocking panel modular system. The edge technology can also be used on concrete golf courses to replace a brick edge or provide a smooth edge inside an artificial rock edge.

www.AGSGolfAndSports.com

Exmark Adapt Cutting Deck Adjustment System
Exmark Adapt Cutting Deck Adjustment System

Available on select 2023 Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn mowers, Adapt enables the operator to make quick deck rake adjustments from the operator seat, without tools. By enabling both positive and negative deck rake adjustment, Adapt enables Exmark’s UltraCut Series 6 cutting deck to operate optimally in a wider range of conditions. It works equally well for side-discharge, mulching and bagging.

https://www.exmark.com/

RedMax SRTZ235 Commercial Hedge Trimmers
RedMax SRTZ235 Commercial Hedge Trimmers

RedMax, a manufacturer of commercial-grade outdoor power equipment, introduces the SRTZ235 articulating hedge trimmers. At 24 inches, the trimmers’ blade length allows lawn-maintenance professionals to cut more in one pass and extends so the operator can reach hedges and shrubs without requiring a ladder or bending down, helping get the job done quickly. The 21.6 fl. oz fuel capacity enables long running time, while the commercial-built gearbox allows users to quickly switch between cutting angles with a single pull-down motion.

https://www.redmax.com

Road Widener FH-R Material Placement Attachment
Road Widener FH-R Material Placement Attachment

Road Widener LLC offers the patented FH-R material placement attachment, which provides contractors with 50 percent reduced labor at 1/5 of the cost of traditional self-propelled equipment. The remote-controlled design provides operators with more versatility when dispensing and placing material.

www.roadwidenerllc.com

 
 
 

Buyer’s Guide

 

Marketspace Spotlight

 

Coming Up

April 2022

Aquatics

For Your Information:

  • Accessibility & Water Safety

  • Fitness & Water Attractions

  • Amenities

For Your Inspiration:

  • Beaches & Ponds

  • Waterfronts

  • Leisure and Competitive Pools

 
 

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