Park Maintenance Shop Talk

There is a need to educate playground owners of important safety  considerations and highlight seasonal maintenance tasks for each type of  surfacing, including accessibility when planning the project, that  should be put into place for routine and periodic safety inspections.    

For this session of Shop Talk, we invited Kevin Umbreit, VP and District  Sales Representative from Recreation Resource USA, to share his  expertise regarding resilient playground safety surfaces. Attendees will  learn about the pros/cons of each type of surface, costs, and ongoing  maintenance issues.   

Participants will:  

1. Learn about each type of playground surface 

2. Learn about costs associated with each type of playground surface 

3. Be provided with details about why it is important to maintain your  playground surfaces

Trees are long-lived woody plants that provide so much to our  communities and park settings. Proper tree maintenance and pruning in  our landscapes can improve safety, reduce storm damage, prevent the  spread of decay, and extend the life of the tree.  Without an  understanding of tree biology and proper pruning, trees are often  severely damaged, leading to unsafe, decaying trees.  

For this Shop Talk, we have invited an expert from Penn State University  Extension to introduce us to the fundamentals of tree pruning. We will  learn pruning theory, terminology, pruning cuts, and plant biological  response.  This session will focus on pruning objectives, timing,  applying cuts, improving structure and safety, common pruning mistakes,  important tools and techniques for working safely.      

Learning objectives for this session are:  

1. to gain an understanding of woody plant response to pruning/wound  closure/sprouting/compartmentalization of decay.  

2. to learn the 3 types of pruning cuts, how they are applied, and their  impact.  

3. to learn how tree structure can be improved through proper pruning.  

4. to learn about tree pruning tools and safe use.

For this session of Shop Talk, we invited administrators of the Pennsylvania iMapInvasives program to provide an overview of this unique and resourceful platform. Our presenters will cover topics including data entry (using both the online interface, mobile app, and Survey123), creation of email alerts, and custom reports. This event with highlight the power and utility of knowledge at our fingertips.   We will be shown how to query for data in the database, and will be encouraged to set up our own free iMapInvasives account at the conclusion of the training so we can become part of the solution to an increasing challenge that we all face in our communities and surrounding natural environments.   

Our learning objectives for this session are:  

1. to become more aware of the importance of knowing about and looking for invasive species within our park boundaries and open spaces 

2. to gain a better understanding for the value of reporting our findings of invasive species to a publicly-accessible online platform such as iMapInvasive.  

3. to learn how to make use of the many functions and tools available within the iMapInvasive database and mobile application.

In this edition of Shop Talk, Jeff Fowler, Sr. Extension Educator of  Horticulture specializing in turf management for Penn State Extension,  will talk about prepping spring sports fields as well as what should be  done throughout the summer to ensure the playing surfaces are safe for  the fall sports.  

Participants will:  

1. Learn about spring field preparation techniques  

2. Learn about agronomic practices for fall sports fields  

3. Review field care processes through the spring season and into the  summer

Join us as we invite botanical experts from the Western Pennsylvania  Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, who will  provide details on several common and early detection invasive species,  common to Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Tips will be provided on  how to identify these species and information will be covered regarding  on their current distribution in Pennsylvania.    

Participants will:  

1. Learn how to identify a sampling of invasive species.  

2. Be made aware of the importance of knowing about and looking for  invasive species.  

3. Become aware of the need to report their findings of invasive species  to a publicly-accessible online platform such as iMapInvasives.

There is a need to create a common language among trail managers in  order to better define the concept of “routine” maintenance so we can  begin to consider the actual cost breakdown. This session of Shop Talk involves Tom Sexton from the Rails to Trails  Conservancy and a panel of experienced trail managers from across the  state of Pennsylvania. 

The discussion will outline Tom's research with  the concept of investigating what is “routine trail maintenance” and  outlining the actual costs involved in maintaining public rail trails. This session is intended for all trail managers, including park  supervisors, public works directors, volunteer managers and municipal  committees.    

Participants will: 

1. Define what are the tasks involved in “routine maintenance” for rail  trail management  

2.Investigate some of the variables that drastically impact trail  maintenance needs  

3. Learn how to breakdown and calculate the average costs across surface  types

Join hosts Dan Douglas, Keystone Athletic Field Managers Organization  president, and BK Koehler, Director of the PA Parks Maintenance Institute, as they dialogue with sports turf practitioners, researchers  and athletic field experts.  

Discussions include:  

George Toma – Legendary Groundskeeper - for a chat about the life of the "Sodfather"           

Dr. Andy McNitt – Professor of Soil Science at Penn State - for a chat about everything sports turf  

Matt Kerns – Grounds Supervisor at the Episcopal Academy - for a chat about a video case study with the PA Parks  Maintenance Institute  

Rob Guthrie – Turf and Grounds Keeper for Little League International - for a chat about the 2021 Little League World Series  

Nicole Sherry – Director, Field Operations for the Baltimore Orioles - for a chat about MASTMA and STMA  

Evan Mascitti – PhD candidate in Soil Science at Penn State - for a chat about infield materials  

Tanner Delvalle – Extension Educator for Penn State - for a chat about Bluemuda - this will be especially  interesting for those using primarily Bermuda grass on fields living in  transition zones    

Dr. Doug Linde – Professor of Turf Management at Delaware Valley  University - for a chat about employee relations

Asset management is not only for the manufacturing, public works,  communication or transportation industries. It is an essential process  that drives efficiencies. There is a need for parks and recreation  professionals to have a deep understanding of what management tools are  required to develop a portfolio of built and natural assets.  

What is asset management?  How can parks and recreation organizations  apply it to improve lasting performance?  This webinar will cut through  the jargon to provide practical understanding of the tools many  industries and organizations apply…and why  

For this Shop Talk, we have invited Chris Silkie, Program Manager in  Asset Management from Portland Parks and Recreation to share his  expertise working within multiple industries and explain how to apply it  to our parks.  

Participants will: 

1. Gain a better understanding why organizations pursue asset management 

2. Learn some of the technical tools which for part of this practice 

3. Identify the next steps for them, in their role, in their  organization, if they wanted to advance their practice of asset  management

There is an increasing need for essential service providers to learn how  to use a data-driven approach to make strategic decisions, calculate  value, and communicate return on investment to the public. For this Shop  Talk, we have invited Barbara Heller, Manager and Practice Lead for  Parks and Recreation and Jesse Myott, Senior Consultant with BerryDunn  to share their expertise consulting organizations and municipalities.    

Participants will:  

1. Discuss the definitions of performance measurement  

2. Identify common barriers and examples of success in measuring  organizational performance  

3. Learn common metrics used to measure organizational performance in  parks and recreation agencies  

4. Identify cultural elements needed to successfully measure  organizational performance

Join us for an open discussion surrounding various maintenance topics.   Sharing questions helps to find answers, and leads toward building a  stronger professional community.  The current challenges that you face  in your operations can help to generate collaborative solutions for our  industry.  Recorded: October 22, 2020

Topics of discussion include:

• Sustainability efforts in urban parks with examples from Daniel  Lawson, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation 

• Managing expectations when a balancing multiple stakeholder groups  with Cynthia Rabbers, Penn State University Stone Valley Recreation Area 

• Future trends and insights from other maintenance professionals across industries