The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast

Maintenance management software can automate some processes and organize a maintenance team, but how does it pay for itself? Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) software is an investment for a parks and recreation agency. As with any investment, you want to see it start paying off as soon as possible. You may be surprised at how quickly your agency will start seeing a return on the i...

When a parks and recreation agency chooses maintenance management software to help streamline operations, individuals often have ideas about what the software can and cannot do. Some may think choosing computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) software will solve all their problems. Others may believe that “Big Brother” will be watching over them, tracking their every move.  After all, cha...

With record heat reaching through most of the country, it’s crucial to keep your staff and visitors safe from the excessive temperatures.  Maintenance staff working outdoors in the elements exposed to heat, humidity, and sunlight are especially vulnerable. Being aware of heat-related illness symptoms allows staff to monitor themselves, their coworkers, and any visitors exposed to prolonged periods...

For parks and recreation maintenance teams, it’s the middle of the busy season. Everyone is probably feeling the strain. Workers have to manage heat, special events, and more visitors–along with their other regular duties–to ensure parks and properties are looking and functioning their best.  Most maintenance managers have been through this chaotic time before. But they want to go through it bette...

You know the sound as soon as you hear it…the whir of a leaf blower doing its job. Despite the name, leaf blowers can help with various cleaning and clearing tasks. And if you work in parks maintenance, they are likely one of your trusted tools throughout the day.  And, like most landscaping equipment, they need regular maintenance to operate at their best and last their longest. In this episode o...

We’ve all been there. Somebody calls off. An emergency repair is needed. Something breaks down in the field. In these instances and others, maintenance managers have to make tough decisions about what tasks to do and what needs to be deferred.  With a growing list of deferred maintenance tasks, more things start slipping through the cracks, and even more work gets deferred. Soon, your team is in o...

Certain parts of the United States will soon experience a surge of visitors, but they may not be the typical visitors we’re used to seeing.  Billions, even trillions of cicadas, will emerge from the ground in some areas as two overlapping Broods come out to mate.  Are you not even sure what that means? And how will it affect your parks and landscaping? No problem. We have you covered. This episode...

Parks maintenance workers are on the frontlines of ensuring our parks, playgrounds, green spaces, and facilities remain beneficial community resources.  The work can be hard and sometimes only gets noticed if a problem arises. When individuals feel heard and appreciated, you will have a better chance of retaining your park maintenance staff.  Agencies that have more success filling roles and keepi...

From playgrounds and gyms to paths and ballfields, parks and recreation agencies have a lot going on and many different types of assets.  Managing and tracking those assets can be a complicated balance of scheduling, budgeting, and labor management. Without a clear plan for managing parks and recreation assets, things will fall through the cracks. And little issues are going to become big, expensi...

Are you looking to cut your parks maintenance supply and labor costs? Has your parks and recreation agency developed a sustainability plan requiring more environmentally friendly practices? Do you want safe places your visitors can enjoy and be proud of? Sustainable landscape management and natural lawn care limit or eliminate the use of harmful, dangerous chemicals while ensuring the areas are he...

As the weather gets nicer, more children and families will head to your parks and playgrounds. Are your playgrounds ready for the extra traffic? 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? In this episode of...

As we get closer to the spring and summer seasons, you probably have some extra seasonal staff openings that need to be filled.  Attracting great seasonal employees takes more than putting a “We’re Hiring” sign in front of your administration building. So how can you reach potential employees and get them excited to work for your agency? In this episode of the Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast, le...

During the winter, there’s a good chance your recreation facilities get a workout. Recreation Center parking lot maintenance ensures your guests and employees can park their vehicles and get to your facilities safely. But winter is hard on parking lots. Extreme weather, freeze-thaw cycles, and snow removal equipment can damage parking lots and surrounding landscaping--especially when proper precau...

What parks and recreation trends will define 2024? After all, staying on top of the latest parks and recreation trends helps keep the public engaged and makes your agency more relevant. If the start of this decade has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. However, we feel a few trends will emerge or continue to be on the radar of several parks and recreation agencies in 2024.  In this...

During the winter months, many parks and recreation agencies switch the focus to their facilities. The public takes advantage of community centers, recreation complexes, and gyms for their leisurely pursuits.  The maintenance department plays a key role in ensuring these facilities are safe, comfortable, and clean. Developing a preventive maintenance plan for HVAC systems ensures guests and staff...

Maintenance management software is an investment to improve operations for your agency. You want to ensure you're getting the best option for your money. The implementation process is a crucial step while transitioning to a CMMS. If the implementation doesn’t go well, you may be paying for software that no one uses--and you’ll probably have to answer some tough questions next time budget meetings...

Making outdoor playgrounds available to visitors is important for every season. After all, even during winter, many children and families brave the elements for physical outdoor play. BUT…Winter weather--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 maintena...

Are you looking to reduce labor and maintenance costs? Maybe decrease the wear and tear on your equipment and vehicles? Do you have large areas of turfgrass that hardly ever get used? Then we may have a solution for all these issues and a lot more.  Replacing turfgrass areas with locally native plants can positively affect maintenance operations, the community, and the environment. But it will tak...

You heard the public's demand for pickleball courts. You transformed some older, hardly used tennis courts into pickleball courts.  And now you're hearing the public's complaints about pickleball noise! Ironically, a sport created decades ago allowing families and friends of all ability levels to play together is causing a serious rift between Picklers (Pickleball players) and non-players living n...

You want your recreational areas to be a source of pride for your department and joy for the public. Preventing and eliminating litter is a top priority.     Public parks offer many benefits for those who use them. Litter, however, can distract and degrade the experience. In fact, poorly maintained sites with visible debris distract from patrons' perceived quality and safety of an experience.  It'...

You’ve just about made it through another busy growing season. Chances are you had some smooth patches and some challenges along the way.  The season has added to your parks maintenance wisdom. So put that wisdom to good use! As things start slowing down for the season, now is an excellent time to prepare for next year.  Sure, you may not even want to think about next year’s park maintenance right...

If your team finds its workflow disrupted by equipment breakdowns, facility issues, and constant park repairs, it may be time to examine your preventative maintenance plan. The best way of dealing with problems in parks and facilities is by catching them before they become major issues. Scheduling routine preventative maintenance for your assets helps prevent breakdowns, injuries, and workflow dis...

A well-maintained recreation facility gives the public a safe, welcoming, functional environment to enjoy programming and events. As the winter months approach, you may find your recreation facility getting even more use…and abuse. Is your recreation complex, fitness facility, or community center ready for it? Like our playgrounds and park assets, facilities benefit from routine inspections and ma...

If not already, there will probably come a time when everything your maintenance department does will need to be outlined in a maintenance program. For those who have worked in the field for a long time, this may mean taking everything that’s become instinctual and turning it into something tangible.  In other words…no small task. You may not even know where to begin. Initially, organizing your ma...

Trails are excellent features that encourage the public to get active and enjoy nature.  Carefully planned and constructed trails can be a major attraction at a park or natural area.  And that means they can also get a lot of traffic. And, as you probably know, lots of traffic can cause trail issues. Even well-constructed trails need routine inspections and maintenance. Resolving any emerging drai...