Photo Credit: Courtesy of Oregon Parks and Recreation
Staff reduction, inclement weather and a decrease in visitor traffic make the winter season a challenging, but ideal, time for park maintenance. Across the country, parks and recreation departments focus on different areas when preparing for this unpredictable season.
Cutting Off Water
Winter weather brings freezing temperatures, so in order to keep everything flowing smoothly once spring arrives, most parks systems opt to cut off water supplies.
In Washington, D.C., all of the irrigation systems are winterized. Everything is taken off-line in pool bathhouses--fixtures such as shower heads are removed and windows and doors are secured. Pools are covered, antifreeze is put into the pool water line, and valves are capped.