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Grounds manager highlights rinks, playground fixes and volunteer partnerships in 2025 annual report
Summary
Grounds manager Greg Hooks told the Appleton City Parks & Recreation Committee that the grounds division added new pavilion and playground work, improved rinks (first time up before Christmas in a decade), addressed erosion and infield repairs and continues heavy reliance on volunteers and certified training.
Greg Hooks, the City grounds manager, told the Appleton City Parks & Recreation Committee that 2025 was a smooth year for park operations despite staffing challenges and a smaller seasonal applicant pool.
He said the grounds crew now includes six grounds coordinators and three grounds technicians and reported that two new coordinators were hired in 2025 to replace a retirement and a departure. "This was the first time we were able to get the rinks up before Christmas in a decade," Hooks said, crediting staff who volunteered third‑shift shifts to build ice early in the season.
Hooks described contracted and in‑house projects completed in 2025: corrective work on the Lower Tallulah trail, replacement of a failed Police Department vehicle gate, the new Lundgaard pavilion (playground concrete installed and grass restoration planned this spring), and additions at High View Park to provide more equipment for smaller children. He said a universal‑playground spinner required changes to its fall zone and a limiter replacement before returning it to service.
On fields and turf, Hooks said the department added about seven tons of Turface (a calcified‑clay infield amendment) to two infields and installed erosion logs to reduce runoff that previously carried infield mix into storm drains. He also described work to enlarge the Jones Park family rink and to adjust grading so ice can form more reliably in low‑snow years.
Hooks listed several routine and contracted services (police parking‑lot snow removal, weed mowing, porta‑potties for seasonal use) and noted improvements such as new signs at Veterans Memorial Park and refinishing work at other parks. He highlighted volunteer and partner support — particularly the Friends group at the Scheig — and said the division coordinates adoptive park groups, school volunteer days and other work parties.
On training, Hooks said staff completed certifications including DNR UTV operation, pesticide‑applicator recertification for himself and three others, forklift refreshers and chainsaw/tree‑felling training for new members.
During questions, Alder Schultz asked about the Adopt‑a‑Park program. Hooks said "I think we probably have about 7 parks in Adopt a Park now," but added many groups sign up for a single year and then "fizzle out" in the second year. On the new gates in Veterans Memorial Park, Hooks said the Police Department will be in charge of gate use and the grounds crew would close gates only at PD's request.
The committee did not take formal action on the report; members thanked staff for the work and moved on to the next agenda item.
