ANNUAL REPORT
2007-2008
PARKS AND GROUNDS DIVISION
The responsibilities of the PARKS AND GROUNDS DIVISION of Public Works include the management and maintenance of all the parks and open space properties, the lawns and landscapes of all Town-owned buildings, as well as the grounds and sport fields at all of the Board of Education facilities.
Always conscious of budget expenses, this Division began to once again focus on its core functions.
Several new projects and facilities were both added and proposed this fiscal year. As a result of nominal increases in maintenance budgets, Parks and Grounds judiciously lent as much of their resources as was possible to these projects without severely sacrificing existing programs and duties.
The recently added facilities include: nearly eight acres of intensely managed sports fields at Rye Street Park; the “Bark Park” and the expansion of the ROPES course at Nevers Road Park; the Boundless Playground and its newest addition – Jacob’s View; and the leased property known as “the old post office.”
Citizens of South Windsor have always taken great pride in the appearance of their Town’s properties. The Parks and Grounds Division has once again stepped up to the challenge of maintaining its many beautiful properties but also to the creation of new safe and satisfying outdoor environments.
The ten (10) full-time Maintainers and the one part-time Groundskeeper divide their time attending to the management of 200 acres of mowable turf, 16 baseball/softball fields, 18 assorted sized soccer fields, 3 football/lacrosse fields, and one field hockey field. These are all separate use fields with only one exception – the stadium field at South Windsor High School. This field is a multi-use field serving football, soccer and track events.
There are 15 irrigation systems serving many of the ball fields, several landscaped areas and four turf areas. These systems prolong the safety and beauty of the areas they serve but are not maintenance free. They, in fact, require specialized attention. Experienced Parks’ staff and contracted services make sure the systems operate at maximum efficiency.
South Windsor has over 2.5 miles of paved or stone dust trails and over 3 miles of footpaths scattered through its parks, open spaces and schoolyards – all maintained by this Division. With help from local Scouts and scouting groups, Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve has “groomed” footpaths, floating bridges and boardwalks over wet areas. This open space has become one of South Windsor’s crown jewels for outdoor enthusiasts.
One of New England’s largest and arguably one of its most attractive pool facilities is cleaned and covered by our maintainers from spring to fall every year. VMP is also home to the Eagle Monument which hosts the Memorial Day parade and the Veteran’s Day ceremony in the fall, plus countless visitors nearly all year long. This too is attended to by the Parks crew.
The Town and its citizens are fortunate to own many acres of open space. Large and small tracts cover all corners and in between. Even though they do not all need the same level of attention, none of them are maintenance free. Annual mowing of South Windsor’s three dams and open space areas takes the whole crew a good part of a week every fall in ensure they remain as open grassy fields. This past winter season, Parks and Grounds supervised the mowing and maintenance of 15 detention areas. These are an integral part of storm water management and it is essential to keep them functioning properly. In January and February, ten (10) of these areas received a thorough clearing of brush, vines and saplings. The local contractor responsible for this task performed safely and efficiently meeting our
high expectations. Now these areas can be maintained in-house with our own equipment on a regular basis.
Trees on any property owned by the Town, including right-of-ways and easements are the responsibility of the Tree Warden and most often the Parks crew. Tree care involves planning, trimming and removal depending on the circumstances.
Setting up and putting to bed the Community Gardens at Avery Street is another spring and fall duty of the Parks Division.
Fall months are dedicated to fall clean-ups at many of our mowed areas. Parks also partners with the Street Division and Motor Equipment in cleaning up the entire Town on the “Leaf Program” and plowing all Town roads, buildings and all open space sidewalks in the winter months.
Stephan Lavigueur
Parks and Grounds Manager
| 
