As the weather gets nicer, more children and families will visit your parks and playgrounds. One of the most important responsibilities of park maintenance workers is ensuring playgrounds are safe, free of hazards, and ready for action. Do you have a plan to make sure your outdoor assets are prepared for the increased traffic? Here are some ideas...

Parking lots take a beating during the winter. The extreme weather, freeze-thaw cycles, and snow removal equipment can cause damage--especially to parking lots that aren’t prepared and maintained well. Some planning, preparation, and training helps ensure your recreation facilities and park parking lots are cleared, safe for visitors, and undamaged during snow removal.

What parks and recreation trends will define 2024? Staying on top of the latest parks and recreation trends helps keep the public engaged and makes your agency more relevant. We’ve seen some trends develop and keep their momentum during the pandemic. But will new trends emerge soon?

During the winter months, many parks and recreation agencies switch the focus to their facilities. The maintenance department plays a key role in ensuring these facilities are safe, comfortable, and clean. HVAC systems in the facilities need proper care to operate at peak efficiency and exceed lifespan expectations.

Computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) is an investment to improve operations for your agency. When choosing a CMMS, you want to be sure you’re getting the best option for your money. How can you ensure you’re making the right CMMS choice? The answer goes beyond looking at features and pricing structures.

Winter conditions--like snow, ice, and fluctuating temperatures--can hasten the wear and tear of playground equipment. Extreme winter weather can create hazards and unsafe conditions on playgrounds. A parks maintenance team taking proper safety precautions and promptly addressing weather-related issues allows children to safely use playground equipment in any season.

Many modern parks have an abundance of turfgrass. Some of it gets used often--like athletic fields, play areas, or event spots. Other times, it’s an unused open area that needs regular maintenance. Is there a solution to cut costs as well as make better use of relatively unused land? Yes, and the answer may be closer than you think.

You heard the public’s demands for pickleball courts. You transformed some older, hardly-used tennis courts into pickleball courts. Now the noise complaints are rolling in. What can you do? Here are some solutions for pickleball noise.

You’ve just about made it through another busy growing season. Chances are you had some smooth patches and some challenges along the way. Now is an excellent time to prepare for next year. Don’t put it off- starting to plan can make next year go so much smoother.

The changing seasons mean more indoor activities. The focus shifts from mowing and park maintenance to more facility maintenance. A well-maintained facility gives the public a safe, welcoming, functional environment to enjoy programming and events. Like our playgrounds and park assets, facilities benefit from routine inspections and maintenance tasks to stay at their best.