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Parks director seeks commissioners and volunteers as 'park ambassadors' to report maintenance and safety issues
Summary
Director Maggie Plaster introduced a voluntary Park Ambassador program and an online survey (QR code) to collect real‑time observations across the city's 87 parks, asking commissioners to help identify cleanliness, safety and maintenance concerns.
Maggie Plaster, director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, presented a voluntary Park Ambassador program to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission on March 3, asking commissioners to help collect real‑time feedback via an online survey/QR code that can be shared with residents and user groups.
Plaster said the department manages 87 parks and does not have enough maintenance staff to address every issue immediately. The proposed ambassador survey asks for the park name, date and time of observation, the number of people present, cleanliness ratings (1–5), photos and notes about maintenance or safety hazards (graffiti, broken playground equipment, overflowing trash cans, irrigation problems). “We have 87 parks. We do not have enough maintenance staff to address all of the issues in our parks all the time,” Plaster said, asking commissioners to submit short, high‑level inspections when possible.
Plaster outlined three maintenance modes: high‑standard parks (weekly grass cutting and daily restroom cleaning for high‑use sports complexes), moderate parks (weekly grass cutting, restroom cleaning daily, less frequent shrub trimming) and mode 3 (undeveloped areas addressed as needed). She encouraged commissioners to use the new form or SeeClickFix — both options route information to park maintenance — and said the department will keep records of submissions to help prioritize responses.
Commissioners asked whether established user groups (for example, skate‑park users or scout groups) could serve as ambassadors; Plaster said user groups could use the form and staff would work with municipal sports or maintenance staff to respond. On pesticide and pest control questions, Parks and Grounds manager Steve Gallant told commissioners the department follows integrated pest management and uses the least‑impactful options appropriate to the pest while keeping children's exposure in mind.
Plaster said the program is voluntary and not required; the department will provide a QR code and share a link for commissioners and residents to report observations. No formal vote was taken.
