Park Maintenance Worker

Performs semi-skilled and unskilled manual tasks in the maintenance of City parks and recreation facilities.

An employee in this class performs a variety of tasks involving semi-skilled equipment operation and landscaping tasks in the maintenance of varied City grounds including park areas, athletics fields, and recreation centers. Parks’ grounds maintenance includes mowing, planting, edging, trimming, blowing leaves, mulching, watering, and trash removal. Work includes preparation of ball fields, cleaning facilities, and minor repairs such as plumbing and painting. . Work includes spraying of chemicals, participating in snow removal, and cleaning and routine maintenance of equipment and vehicles. Employees must be able to perform manual labor and semi-skilled duties, and abide by safety rules and regulations. Work assignments vary depending upon season and maintenance needs at grounds and facilities. Work subjects the employee to inside and outside environmental conditions, noise, vibration, hazards associated with maintenance work, fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, and oils. Duties may also expose the employee to human body fluids and thus the work is subject to the OSHA requirements on blood borne pathogens. Assignments are made daily and performed under the direct supervision of the Parks Maintenance Supervisor. Work is reviewed through direct observation, and quality and quantity of work produced.

Essential Duties and Tasks

• Mows and maintains grounds around City parks and open areas; blows, rakes, and picks up leaves, debris and trash; prunes trees and shrubbery, plants, waters, seeds and fertilizes grass, trees, flowers and shrubbery; sprays pesticides and other chemicals.
• Participates in basic building maintenance tasks at recreation facilities and parks including basic repairs such as plumbing, painting, repair work, and custodial duties; cleans restrooms, strips floors, repairs bleachers and seats, replaces acoustic tiles, changes filters and changes light bulbs.
• Prepares areas for play; paints lines and drags ball fields in preparation of games; cleans dug out area; cleans courts and repairs nets.
• Drives truck to and from work sites; hauls supplies, equipment and materials and picks up plants.
• Loads and unloads supplies, equipment and materials.
• Performs routine maintenance and replacement on machinery, equipment and/or vehicles.
• During snow or high wind situations, puts down salt and assist with snow removal; cuts up and loads tree limbs and other debris.
• Operates a variety of equipment power tools, lawn mowers, weed eaters, chain saws, sprayers, leaf blowers, and hand saws; drives trucks and tractors.
• Follows relevant safety practices and procedures in equipment operation.
• Responds to patron questions regarding park and facility rules and regulations.

Additional Job Duties

Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of tools, materials and methods used in unskilled and semi-skilled grounds maintenance work.
• Working knowledge of proper application of pesticides.
• Working knowledge of basic equipment or vehicle maintenance.
• Working knowledge of safety precautions applicable to the duties of the class.
• Ability work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to use varied equipment required in performance of duties.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, superiors and the general public.
• Ability to respond courteously to citizens.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform medium work, exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to operate equipment and vehicles, to operate hand tools and lawn mowers, and to make visual inspections of work assigned and completed.

Desirable Education and Experience

Graduation from high school and some experience in unskilled and semi-skilled grounds maintenance work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements:

Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license.