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Parks staff report heavy trail and field use, seek better maintenance planning; contractor schedule and volunteers highlighted
Summary
Parks division staff told the board on April 5 that new playgrounds and a Lancaster Park dog park are heavily used, that seasonal grass-cutting demands cover about 105 locations and 900 acres, and that the department will look into a formal maintenance-management tool after board members urged a computerized asset plan.
David Guiler, parks division staff for St. Mary's County, told the Recreation and Parks Board on April 5 that the recently opened dog park at Lancaster Park "is getting a lot of use. It's very popular," and that five playgrounds installed last year are drawing strong citizen praise.
Guiler described the parks maintenance workload and volunteer support. The county’s grass-cutting contract was re-awarded to Truveen Landcare; Guiler said major parks typically receive weekly cuts while lesser-used parks are cut every 8–10 days and that the contractor covers roughly 105 locations and about 900 acres of grass. He cautioned that weather-related delays can produce temporary lapses in schedule and asked citizens to report missed cuts or field problems.
Senior volunteers and trail work
Guiler said three senior volunteers are working on trail maintenance and clearing, with recent emphasis at Myrtle Point and Baggett Park. He noted the Friends of Myrtle Point participate in shoreline cleanups but are not regularly performing the heavy trail maintenance the county’s senior volunteers handle.
Maintenance planning and board requests
Board member Patrick pressed staff on whether the department maintains a formal, computerized maintenance-management plan for playgrounds, fields and other assets. Patrick described industrial asset-management software models and urged using a tool that enters assets and schedules routine upkeep to level operating budgets and avoid ad-hoc capital projects.
Guiler and other staff said the department carries out routine inspections and annual maintenance (certified playground inspectors, field patching after seasons) but currently lacks a comprehensive computerized asset-maintenance program. Staff said they would investigate existing county software options and report back; Guiler said an additional groundskeeper position is in the recommended budget pending final county approval.
Other operational notes
- A bulkhead replacement at Forest Landing (left side of the boat ramp) is expected to begin in a few weeks. - Lancaster Park trails that were previously closed for winter blowdown have been cleared and reopened. - Staff confirmed they do not perform sidewalk edging on trails but cut grass on both sides of trails.
Ending
Guiler asked that users report field or maintenance problems so staff can address specific locations, and the board signaled support for staff returning with a plan on maintenance-management tools and a possible formal maintenance schedule.
