What does it take to maintain city parks? I tagged along with Parks and Recreation to find out.
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POCATELLO — The EastIdahoNews.com team is highlighting different jobs in our area, and today, we’re workin’ it with the Pocatello Parks and Recreation Department to find out what it takes to maintain the city park system.
Brett Lopez, maintenance technician with department, showed me around for a day and demonstrated what he does in the parks. We visited Lookout Point, Sacajawea Park and Spaulding’s Overlook.
We started the day at Pocatello’s newest park, Lookout Point, and Lopez showed me how they maintain the grass and keep the trees trimmed so people have a good field of vision through the park.
Next we went to Sacajawea Park where they were preparing for an upcoming ribbon cutting. Lopez showed me how the maintain the foliage around park amenities.
We ended the day by going to Spaulding’s Overlook, where we cut out a tree that had died. Park workers do this not just because it makes the park more aesthetically pleasing, but also because it prevents dead trees from becoming a hazard.
Throughout our stops, I got to experience a feeling of satisfaction knowing parks users would be able to better enjoy the areas I worked in.
“(When) we get to come in, do a good job, it reflects on the community,” Lopez said. “We have trail users that come out (and) they see something like that, when it’s done properly, it’s really just the icing on the cake that we’re looking for.”
Watch previous Workin’ It segments here.
This story is sponsored by Workforce Training and Continuing Education Division, which is responsible for the non-credit programs at College of Eastern Idaho. WTCE is home to one of Idaho's six Workforce Training Centers operated in cooperation with Idaho Career Technical Education. Our programs unite people who want to expand their creative talents and gain new skills and experiences. From enhancing career aspirations to upskilling, there is a class, certificate or program just for you! WTCE has a combination of short- and long-term courses spanning topics such as cybersecurity, art, welding and many others. Workforce Training and Continuing Education Division is a service to the entire community.