Park Maintenance Shop Talk: Recent Episodes
BK Koehler
The Park Maintenance Institute has developed Shop Talk as a safe space for professionals to share ideas openly, provide insights, and draw upon the collective knowledge and experience of our industry.
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:
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Learn about each type of playground surface
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Learn about costs associated with each type of playground surface
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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:
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to gain an understanding of woody plant response to pruning/wound closure/sprouting/compartmentalization of decay.
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to learn the 3 types of pruning cuts, how they are applied, and their impact.
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to learn how tree structure can be improved through proper pruning.
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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:
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to become more aware of the importance of knowing about and looking for invasive species within our park boundaries and open spaces
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to gain a better understanding for the value of reporting our findings of invasive species to a publicly-accessible online platform such as iMapInvasive.
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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:
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Learn about spring field preparation techniques
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Learn about agronomic practices for fall sports fields
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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:
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Learn how to identify a sampling of invasive species.
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Be made aware of the importance of knowing about and looking for invasive species.
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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:
- 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
- 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:
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Gain a better understanding why organizations pursue asset management
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Learn some of the technical tools which for part of this practice
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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:
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Discuss the definitions of performance measurement
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Identify common barriers and examples of success in measuring organizational performance
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Learn common metrics used to measure organizational performance in parks and recreation agencies
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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
Sharing questions helps to find answers, and leads toward building a stronger professional community. Our second Park Maintenance Roundtable created an opportunity for participants to generate collaborative solutions for our industry. Recorded: August 20, 2020
Topics of discussion will include:
• Operation updates and current COVID protocols
• Managing impacts from increased usage
• Managing youth sport teams (and their families) during COVID
• Managing facility rentals (or challenges related to NOT allowing rentals)
• Budgeting and inventory concerns for the future
COVID-19 has changed our park landscapes. Overcrowding in urban parks has driven people outside their communities into surrounding municipalities, state parks, and state forests for recreation activity. Increased traffic in smaller communities, on trails, and public open spaces demonstrates the importance of our industry. However, not all municipalities are prepared for increased demands on their systems. As more people continue to utilize services and amenities, infrastructure and logistical challenges may occur. More people generate more waste to manage. How can we best prepare our facilities to manage waste from unexpected crowds? What steps can we take in our infrastructure and operations planning to adjust? What resources are available out there to help? The topic of discussion in our next Shop Talk panel is waste management best practices and illegal dumping mitigation. Recorded: July 23, 2020
We have invited a group of industry experts to share insights and answer questions:
Marci Mowery, President, Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation
Laura Henry, Environmental Group Manager, Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Waste Management
Heidi Pedicone, Director of Programs, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful
Join us for our first open discussion surrounding challenges in maintenance operations created by COVID protocol changes. We gathered a group of maintenance professionals from multiple industries around the world, and found we all have similar concerns and solutions to share. Recorded: June 4, 2020
Have you considered converting open space to meadows in an effort to reduce maintenance costs? Does starting a meadow simply mean stop mowing? Topic of discussion in this Shop Talk panel will surround open space management and important considerations for low mow / no mow operations. Recorded: May 21, 2020
We invited a group of industry experts and experienced park maintenance professionals to share insights and answer questions:
Kate Ebel, Senior Environmental Scientist, Wildlands Conservancy
Gary Gimbert, Regional Director of Land Stewardship, Natural Lands
Derek Dureka, Director of Parks & Recreation, Upper Dublin Township
Brendan Lederer, Assistant Director, Berks County Parks and Recreation Department
COVID created many challenges they may have caught us off-guard. For our first Shop Talk event, we invited a panel of athletic field management experts to discuss minimum requirements for maintaining healthy athletic turf. Recorded: April 24, 2020
From our sponsor Toro:
Boyd Montgomery, CSFM - Regional Business Manager Sports Fields & Grounds, North America
Matt Anderson, CSFM - District Sales Manager - Sports Fields & Grounds
From the Pennsylvania Park Maintenance Institute Advisory Board:
Rebecca Auchter, CSFM - Sports Turf Sales Representative at Advanced Turf Solutions
Jeff Fowler - Sr. Extension Educator-Horticulture at Penn State Extension
For this session of Shop Talk, we invited Kevin Umbreit, VP and District Sales Representative from Recreation Resource USA, to share his expertise regarding important maintenance checks and preventative efforts we should all consider for our playgrounds before we get into the winter season. Recorded: November 16, 2020
Participants will:
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Learn about regular playground maintenance tasks they should consider every fall
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Learn about important safety precautions that should be taken each season
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Be provided with useful checklists and maintenance templates to utilize in their own operations
This session of Shop Talk will highlight discussions with a panel of seasoned maintenance professionals from park departments across the nation. Our discussion will highlight each of their operation plans for the 2020 holiday season, investigate their seasonal efforts for remainder of the 4th quarter, and outline their operational plans for 2021. Recorded: November 17, 2020
Thank you to our recent Shop Talk with panelists:
- Brendan Lederer, Assistant Director of Berks County, PA Parks and Recreation Department
- Joel McKnight, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director at The City of El Paso,TX
- James Hirst, Outdoor Recreation Manager at City of Palm Coast, FL
- Brent Kath, Assistant Director of Asset Management at Minneapolis,MN Park & Recreation Board
In this edition of Shop Talk, Jeff Fowler, Sr. Extension Educator of Horticulture specializing in turf management for Penn State Extension, will cover steps to help your athletic fields thrive in the spring after being put to bed properly this fall. Recorded: October 8, 2020
Participants will:
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Gain a better perspective from the end-users of the fields / facilities
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Learn methods to improve field usage and potentially increase revenue from field / facility usage
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Be introduced to alternative products / procedures that increase efficiency and safety for field use
In this edition of Shop Talk, Todd Roth, Aquatics Supervisor for Centre Region Parks & Recreation, will discuss best practices for closing down pools for the winter season. Recorded: October 6, 2020
Listeners will:
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Learn proper winterization processes for outdoor pools
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Learn proper seasonal maintenance techniques
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Learn important preparations to ensure efficient re-opening next season
Drew Jackson, inventor of the Base Buddy X1 Underground Anchor System, will share his years of experience on the diamond as a player who reached Division 1 baseball, and eventually transitioned roles to youth baseball as a coach. As a player he never appreciated the amount of work that went into setting up fields for the hundreds of baseball games he had played in his life. As a youth baseball coach, he gained a better understanding of the time investment and potential challenges involved with improperly managed fields. Recorded: September 24, 2020
Participants will:
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Gain a better perspective from the end-users of the fields / facilities
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Learn methods to improve field usage and potentially increase revenue from field / facility usage
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Be introduced to alternative products / procedures that increase efficiency and safety for field use