Photo: David Mellor
This column, “LBWA” (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what’s going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her desk and “wander around” the area of operations, talk to people, ask questions and kick around ideas with the individuals in the thick of delivering services to the public. So the author will bring up issues that may be common to many PRB readers and ask the leaders who are the readers to weigh in and share their knowledge and experiences.
Parks and recreation maintenance crews tasked with mowing sports fields often have choices: just get the basic job done and mow the turf at least once a week—twice in heavy growing seasons, if they’re lucky; or move the mowing to a higher plane.
The move toward this higher plane may involve varying mowing techniques using different equipment and at the highest level, and include a pattern in the field.