Recreational work: Park District ‘trying to get better all the time'

DeKalb Park District employee Ryan Jones, 23, trims the grass at Prather Park on Clark Street in DeKalb on Wednesday morning. Summer is busy season for the nearly 175 park maintenance employees who are responsible for upkeep on 700 acres of park throughout the city. Many parks, including Prather Park, need to be mowed up to twice a week. KATE WEBER CARLSON | kcarlson@daily-chronicle.com

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Work hard, play harder. That's the motto park maintenance staff uphold to keep DeKalb Park District looking fresh, green and ready for summer fun. With 700 acres of park area, there's plenty to keep workers busy, administrators said. And new projects are being developed all the time - like this summer's shelter renovation at Hopkins Park and new playgrounds at Kishwaukee Kiwanis Park and Huntley Park. “We try to do a lot of our building projects in-house,” Planning and Development Assistant Director Brad Garrison said. And when the snow starts to fall, work doesn't stop: Winter is the opportune time to prepare and polish equipment for the spring thaw, when motors will be fired up once again for another season of cutting, digging and planting. As of this week, the park district has 26 full-time employees and 155 part-time and seasonal staff members, Executive Director Cindy Capek said. Depending on the needs, seasonal employees - who work in areas of park maintenance, golf courses, park facilities and recreational programs - can number anywhere from 150 to 175. The summer season usually begins in April when the first grass is cut, though a few years ago, an early snow melt had workers mowing in March, Garrison said. How often the grass gets mowed depends on the park's classification. High priority areas are mowed regularly, such as soccer fields, baseball fields, the Ellwood House Museum and a wedding garden at Hopkins Park. Second-level priorities are most residential parks, and are mowed once a week. The third level, wildlife habitat, is mowed two to three times a year to knock down weeds and control vegetation, Garrison said. While maintenance takes up a large portion of park operation, conservation efforts have restored natural habitat and brought in cost-saving methods of energy use. The park district received a grant from the Clean Air Foundation to reduce energy usage. Over the past year, Garrison said, energy usage has been reduced by 100 kilowatts throughout five facilities, and the district will receive a reimbursement of $60,000. “We're just trying to get better all the time,” Garrison said. DeKalb Park District by the numbers • 1 full-time landscaper is employed • 2 to 3 times per year, wildlife habitat is mowed • 5 days pass between mowing at most residential parks • 7 lawnmowers are used to cut grass • 15 ball fields are within the park district • 23 playgrounds are played on each year • 26 full-time staff members are employed by the district • 60 to 100 trees will be planted this year • 100 acres is the size of the largest park, Prairie Park • 155 or more part-time and seasonal staff members are employed • 200 acres of wildlife habitat are in the area • 700 acres of parkland comprise the DeKalb Park District Source: The DeKalb Park District