Becoming a Gardener with the City of Redding Parks Division takes more than a green thumb and a knack for wielding landscaping tools. It takes vision, organization, self-motivation, field experience, college classes, and a series of licenses and certifications to manage the role effectively.

Zach Scott, Gardener-in-Training with the City of Redding, began working with the City’s Parks Division in January 2023. He has just one more license to obtain—an A-Class Driver’s License —before being promoted to the position of Gardener with the City of Redding. That final certification will allow him to operate vehicles over 26,000 pounds.

Specific licenses and certifications, including the Class A License, Qualified Applicator Certificate (QAC) Spray License, a Right-of-Way Spray Certificate, and a Landscape Gardener Certificate, must be obtained within a year of becoming a Gardener with the City of Redding. College coursework in Horticulture may also be required.

Having worked most of his life as a Landscape Contractor, Zach holds a C27 Landscape Contractor’s License, which fulfills the requirements for the college courses. Above and beyond the licenses and certifications, Zach says the role requires a wide skill set that meets the ever-changing demands of the job.

At just nine years old, Zach started his own maintenance route. He mowed lawns, cleaned pools, and collected cans. Zach’s parents instilled a strong work ethic in him and his siblings, and it became the foundation for a 40+ year career in landscape contracting.

Today, Zach spends most of his work hours along his designated route, cleaning up trash, pruning trees, cutting grass, removing weeds, and ensuring everything is in working order at the parks and facilities he’s responsible for. One day a week is reserved for special, larger projects that require more time and energy, like installing playgrounds or a sculpture like the one he recently installed at the roundabout at South Bonnyview Road and Bechelli Lane in Redding.

In public spaces, broken irrigation becomes a daily responsibility: “One of our biggest water losses is broken irrigation. We watch for it constantly and work to fix issues together. If I see something my coworker can’t get to, I jump in and make the repair—and they do the same for me. Everyone is willing to help on this team.”

The Parks crew, Zach says, is keenly aware of the need to conserve water while maintaining the City’s facilities every day: “Our watershed is for all of California, and we keep that in mind at all times. We water just enough to keep it beautiful, but we never want to waste water.”

With 29 full-time employees and 14 seasonal and temporary staff members, the Parks Division covers more ground in the City than most people realize, including the maintenance of 52 city parks, 55 City facilities, including City Hall, nearly 24,000 street trees, and street median landscaping throughout the City. Summertime requires the highest staff volume as the team works to maintain lawns and green spaces during peak growth periods. The staff works year-round to address vandalism issues and partners with the Redding Police Department Park Rangers to support safety in the parks and open spaces.

“We prepare spaces before any new construction, create fire breaks, and help manage the goats that come in to reduce vegetation. We manage Redding’s open spaces, along streets and medians, Redding Electric Utility substations, and even the Market Street Promenade,” says Zach.

Zach loves that working with the Parks Division comes with the benefits of working for an organization like the City of Redding but still provides a sense of autonomy and pride of ownership he experienced as a business owner.

“I’ve never worked in a place quite like this. I love the family atmosphere and feel like I belong here,” says Zach. “Being able to make direct contributions of my time and energy to my community every day—being able to say, ‘I did that’—is something I’m proud of. I love being able to tell my kid what I do. I wish I would have found this job sooner.”