Parks: Other Activity and Miscellaneous Areas Safety Maintenance Checklist
This safety checklist will provide optimum service frequency for your park's different activity areas that can be found in the Landscape Maintenance Modes. Use this checklist to guide you in maintaining the safety of your park's basketball courts to avoid injuries and hazards.
MaintainX
07/21/2022
Parks: Other Activity and Miscellaneous Areas Safety Maintenance Checklist
This safety checklist will provide optimum service frequency for your park's different activity areas that can be found in the Landscape Maintenance Modes. Use this checklist to guide you in maintaining the safety of your park's basketball courts to avoid injuries and hazards.
Drinking Fountains
Drinking Fountains are cleaned once each week and as needed before any reservations or scheduled activity at a specific park location. Routine cleaning includes wiping down the bowl with cleaning solution, removing any contaminants, and removal of any trash at or around the area.
Inspection is done by operating the fountain and looking for any leaks, broken equipment, damage, and/or graffiti. If such problems are found and not repairable by the cleaning staff then Facilities Maintenance staff is notified at X 2677, a work order is generated and the fountain is marked for repair.
These tasks are performed on a regular basis between March 1 and November 30. The optimum service frequency for the drinking fountains in the various parks can be found in the Landscape Maintenance Modes.
Gates/Fences/Bollards
Gates/fences/bollards are inspected with each park cleaning visit and during all park inspection visits.
Inspection is done to check for stability, broken equipment, damages, and/or vandalism.
If such problems are noted, the appropriate Maintenance Supervisor is notified, a work order generated and the problems scheduled for repair or replacement.
These tasks are performed on a regular basis year round on all parks and greenways.
Greenway Trails – Hard Surfaces
Hard surface trails are inspected weekly, with obstructions such as litter, fallen tree debris, stones, gravel, sand, and grass clippings are removed from the surface.
Snow and mud are removed as soon as possible following completion of other assigned snow routes.
Entry gates and bollards are maintained and kept secure to prevent unauthorized access to the trail by motor vehicles or other equipment that could damage trail surfaces or interfere with the experience of the trail user.
Painted lines, signs and other trail markings are inspected and repaired/renovated as needed. If signs need replacement, the Maintenance Supervisor will contact the Sign Shop to create an appropriate replacement sign
Greenway Trails – Natural
Maintenance is performed primarily by volunteers, with assistance by city personnel on an as-needed basis.
Inspection of natural greenway trails will be performed by trained volunteers, as well as department personnel.
Erosion control designs and devices such as outsloped surfaces, drainage dips, and water bars will be installed and maintained to protect the integrity of the trail and to prolong its useful life. This is primarily done by trained volunteers.
Pruning of encroaching vegetation will be performed in a natural manner on an as needed basis. Blazes and other trail signage will be inspected, maintained and replaced in a timely manner as needed, primarily by trained volunteers.
Hanging Baskets - Maintenance is done on an almost daily basis, and includes:
Watering: Watering is completed by a two-person crew using a 600-1000 gallon water tanker, usually on third shift (between 10:30pm and 7am). Each basket should be watered for approximately one minute, or until water begins to pour from the bottom of the basket
Weeding, dead-blooming, pruning is accomplished every two (2) weeks. A basket is properly pruned, dead bloomed and weeded when all weeds and dead flowers are removed; basket is properly pruned when all irregularly shaped growths have been removed or reduced.
Supplemental fertilizing with a water soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer mixed in with the water is performed every two weeks by the watering crew. Fertilizer is mixed according to label directions into the water tanker and is applied through normal watering procedures.
Treatments for insects or disease are done on an as-needed basis by trained division personnel, following label directions for all treatments. All treatments with registered pesticides are recorded per Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services standards.
If spraying is required, it must be done when the temperature is below 85º F, the wind is not blowing and pedestrians are not around.
Restrooms
Restrooms must be cleaned, sanitized and stocked by the contractor on a regular basis, with service frequency for the various parks can be found within the custodial contract, as well as within the Landscape Maintenance Modes.
Cleaning involves sweeping the floor and behind the doors, removing cobwebs, sanitizing all surfaces (toilet, sink, handrails, doors, and walls) and washing the floors. If toilets or sinks are stopped up, and can be unstopped by plunging, then the contractor should do so.
Burned-out light bulbs are to be replaced upon notification or inspection.
Broken fixtures and other problems that cannot be solved by the contractor shall be reported immediately to the Maintenance Supervisor at X5231, and to the Facilities Maintenance Division at X2677, with completion by Facilities Maintenance.
All restrooms shall be stocked with toilet tissue.
New restrooms are being equipped with soap dispensers and hand blow dryers. These restrooms should be stocked with soap in the dispensers as well.
A copy of the cleaning contract can be found in the addenda of this document, and within the Parks Superintendent, Operations Superintendent and the Park Maintenance Supervisor’s offices.
Additional restroom maintenance completed by Park Division staff includes:
Graffiti removal-removed within five (5) days of notification of its existence. If sandblasting is required, Facilities Maintenance is notified, and a work order is created for its completion.
Spot painting of any graffiti is accomplished upon inspection, with full painting completed by Facilities Maintenance staff.
Restrooms located near a shelter are spot-checked for cleanliness and toilet paper by the park maintenance crews prior to any shelter reservations at that location.
Toilet paper is added if levels are insufficient for the event(s) scheduled at that location. All problems are called directly to the cleaning contractor for immediate completion.
Shelters - Maintenance at shelters includes:
Shelters and picnic tables are pressure-washed at least once a year, more often at high use locations
Wooden picnic tables are either painted or stained once a year.
Routine cleaning (as well as cleaning prior to reservations) includes sweeping/blowing off the shelter floor, raking around the perimeter of the shelter, emptying and wiping off trash cans, picking up loose trash, removing graffiti, cleaning grills and wiping off picnic tables.
These tasks are performed on a regular basis between April 1 and November 1.
Sidewalks and Walkways - Routine maintenance is done on sidewalk areas throughout the year. Routine Maintenance includes:
Emptying trash cans in the area, loose trash pick-up, graffiti and/or glass removal, and checking for vandalism or damage.
Any damages and/or concerns found during inspections are reported to the Maintenance Supervisor, a work order is generated, and repairs are scheduled.
Signs - Signs are inspected on a routine basis throughout the year. Inspection includes:
Check for stability, damage and/or vandalism. If such problems are noted, the appropriate division Maintenance Supervisor or Parks Superintendent is notified.
Repairs, graffiti removal and/or painting are to be completed by division staff when feasible, giving this work a high priority for completion within 1-5 days when feasible.
All sign damage that cannot be completed with in-house staff is contracted to a local sign fabricator for completion.
Trash Cans and Park Litter - Trash is picked up within parks and trash cans are emptied and cleaned on a routine basis year round. Routine maintenance includes:
Removal of trash can liner, and replacement of liner. Unless there is very little trash in the can, the plastic bag is changed each time the trash is emptied. Small amounts of trash may be picked out of the can, and the plastic bag left.
Trash cans are wiped down with a cleaner such as Greased Lightening on a bi-weekly basis in high use parks; monthly in low use locations
Graffiti is removed within five (5) days of notification of its existence.
Loose litter in turf areas is picked up according to schedule, as well as just before mowing. The optimum service frequency for cleaning and emptying trash cans and picking up litter in the various parks can be found in the Landscape Maintenance Modes.
Staff members involved in picking up trash are supplied with gloves to protect their hands. Appropriate hand washing shall be completed after completing trash collection.
Sharps containers are provided in each truck for disposal of any needles or other sharp objects they encounter while cleaning parks.
Barrels, drums or other closed metal container of any type found while cleaning should not be touched. Staff are to call the Maintenance Supervisor, who will notify the City’s Environmental Coordinator to determine its contents.
If deemed to be hazardous, staff are no longer involved in the process of removal. All hazardous materials are removed via a contractor properly equipped to handle such issues.
Turfgrass Areas - Regular visual inspections identify pest and disease issues. Routine maintenance of turf includes:
Mowing heights are adjusted according to turf type and season. Fescues, bluegrass and ryegrass (as well as blends of these turf types) generally are mowed at 3.5 to 4” year-round. This mowing height helps turf to recover from wear and tear, reduces weed pressure, and helps reduce hot summer stress.
Mowers shall have blades that are sharp, with blades changed out at least twice per week.
Mulch mowing is performed in open areas each fall between November and January to grind up fallen leaves, helping to increase organic matter and nutrient levels in the soil
Aeration: Aeration is most successful after receiving rainfall. Most open spaces are aerated once per year, in spring or fall. High use areas may be aerated twice (once each in spring and fall). Several passes in different directions should be made, pulling plugs as deep as possible.
Renovations/seeding: Most open space areas will use a 90% tall fescue/10 % Kentucky Bluegrass blend, with varieties suggested by staff from Virginia Tech based upon research. Seed should be applied at a rate of 5-8 pounds/1000 square feet, with a starter fertilizer (10-20-10 or similar) applied at seeding. All seed should be raked/dragged in, with a thin cover of hydromulch or straw to help conserve moisture. Athletic fields and key park open space turf has a fertility and weed control program which is admi
Edging and string trimming helps detail proper turfgrass maintenance. All curbs, sidewalks, shrub beds and trees should be maintained without damaging the obstacles in which you are edging.
Never utilize a string trimmer directly against a tree, especially young trees, as it will damage and likely kill the tree. Mulch rings should be provided at all trees.
Clippings are cleared and blown from sidewalks, roadways back into the turf to complete the mowing process.
Source: MaintainX (Community Member)