The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast

Episode #10: Park Maintenance and Public Safety

Parks & recreation departments provide safe, attractive, and fun environments for visitors to enjoy. The daily work of the maintenance department helps ensure public safety as they enjoy our assets.
Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted the ways parks maintenance departments help keep the public safe. But when we take a closer look at all they do to ensure public safety, we realize just how important it is to instill a culture of safety among the crew.
In this episode, we explore the ways the maintenance department promotes public safety. We will also talk about some ways you can solidify a culture of safety in your team. 
Help make your visitors safer and your risk management professionals less stressed out--give the episode a listen!
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The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog (https://productiveparks.com/blog).
 
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts -  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm3w8OBmlidtNLntib1-6cw?sub_confirmation=1
 
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action - https://productiveparks.com/features/overview
 
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks - https://productiveparks.com/demo

Episode #9: Commercial Outdoor Lighting Maintenance

Parks and Recreation Departments accommodate busy schedules by providing after-dark programming. As we head into late summer and the days inevitably get shorter, evening activities taking place outside require outdoor lighting.
 
Agencies need to ensure areas where programming occurs get lit appropriately. It’s often a delicate balance. Not enough light and the programming may become unsafe and unenjoyable. Too much light causes light pollution and may get complaints from the neighbors. 
 
Today we will talk about commercial outdoor lighting systems and why they are important.
 
We also will list some commercial outdoor lighting maintenance tasks you may want to incorporate into your inspection and preventative maintenance schedules.
 
Hopefully, this episode sheds some light on your commercial outdoor lighting.
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The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog (https://productiveparks.com/blog).
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts -  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm3w8OBmlidtNLntib1-6cw?sub_confirmation=1
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action - https://productiveparks.com/features/overview
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks - https://productiveparks.com/demo

Episode #8: Playground Safety Inspection Checklists: What to Include

Playground safety is one of the most critical responsibilities of a parks and recreation department. The work we do to ensures the safety of playgrounds so children and families can safely enjoy our assets and create memories.  
Playground safety inspections benefit just about everyone--the public, your agency, and the maintenance department. 
Regular playground safety inspections are one of the most effective ways of discovering and addressing safety issues before they become a significant problem--or painful injury.
Today will take a closer look at playground safety inspections and give some tips and resources to help you set up a system for inspecting your agency’s parks. 
Help your colleagues out! If you have any playground safety inspection tips, please share them by commenting below.
Ready? Let’s get started...
____________________________________________________________________________
The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog.
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action
Let’s Connect!
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks
 

Episode #7: Summer Lawn Care: Helping Turfgrass Survive Droughts

Carefully planning lawn care for hot, dry weather can help turfgrass bounce back when the weather becomes more moderate. 
For parks and recreation agencies, lawn care is even more tricky. Summer programming and visitor usage can take a toll on already stressed turfgrass. Remaining observant and proactive to the needs of the soil and turf is crucial during droughts. 
Today we are discussing lawn care before, during, and after a drought. When we care for turfgrass assuming there will eventually be drought-like conditions, we’re making the lawn healthier regardless of what the weather brings.
These lawn care and mowing tips will help make conditions more favorable for turfgrass to establish a robust root system and survive drought
The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog.
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action
Let’s Connect!
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks

Episode #6: Should You Reconsider Mowing Habits?

Gas prices are at an all-time high (and they don’t seem to be going down anytime soon). Parks and Recreation agency operating budgets are feeling the strain. Is it time to change mowing habits for good?
Your team may have a set mowing routine they’ve been doing for years, but maybe it’s time to reconsider. 
Today we’re going to talk about some lawn mowing tips and tricks to help your agency save some money. 
By mowing less and mowing smarter, you could reduce fuel costs and free up some time for other projects. You may find changing your mowing habits now can save on fuel costs each growing season. 
Let’s get started...
____________________________________________________________________________
The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog.
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action
Let’s Connect!
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks

Episode #5: Reducing Scheduling Conflicts Between Staff and Visitors

How do we complete our task and job scheduling so it doesn’t interfere with the visitor experience? 
Parks and recreation departments have a lot of moving parts. Keeping everything working seamlessly is no small task.
And let’s face it: Those using our parks and facilities have little knowledge or interest in the maintenance and job scheduling required to keep things running smoothly. The only time visitors even consider maintenance work is when an area is in an unacceptable condition or the maintenance crew distracts from their experience. 
So how can we make sure all maintenance work gets completed without being distracting?
Today, we’re going to talk about 4 things to consider for minimizing conflicts during job scheduling. 
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The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog.
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action
Let’s Connect!
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks
 

Episode #4: Fleet Maintenance

If your crew is the heart and muscle of the maintenance department, then your vehicles and heavy equipment are the backbones your crew relies on to get work completed.
Fleet maintenance can get complicated. Monitoring and maintaining all the vehicles in your fleet requires an established system. The better your system, the lower the chance of preventable breakdowns. 
So how do you even begin to create a fleet maintenance system? 
Here are some steps to help ensure your vehicles are safe, dependable, and ready to respond when needed.
Get tips on how to set the framework for a fleet maintenance plan, how to get your team to notice small issues before they become bigger ones, and how to determine replacement schedules for your vehicles. 
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The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog.
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action
Let’s Connect!
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks

Episode #3: How Maintenance Crews Help Protect the Environment

Parks & recreation professionals wear many hats. One of the most important “hats” is being a steward of natural areas. This stewardship is a vital responsibility impacting current visitors and future generations.
People need places to escape from the frantic pace of modern life. In fact, studies show spending time in nature has been proven to reduce stress, irritability, symptoms of anxiety & depression, and provide other health benefits.
Our parks and natural areas are one of the most important assets enjoyed by people of all ages. Caring for our parks inspires others to do their part to help the environment. 
The maintenance team is the eyes and ears of these natural areas. They care for the landscape, keep it clean, and ensure sites are safe. 
We are going to look at some of the ways that agencies and maintenance departments help protect the environment, preserve natural areas, and keep them beautiful for years to come.
____________________________________________________________________________
The Productive Parks 5-Minute Podcast is for busy professionals working to change the game in the Parks and Recreation field. If you liked this episode,  please check out more of our park and recreation maintenance podcasts or view some articles on our blog.
What’s Next?
SUBSCRIBE to Stay Updated About Future Productive Parks Podcasts
SEE A QUICK VIDEO of Productive Parks in Action
Let’s Connect!
Schedule a Demo of Productive Parks