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The sun is shining, school is out, and concerts have returned to the Town Green—it’s officially summer in Windsor! While we enjoy the warm weather, the Town of Windsor’s Parks and Facilities Maintenance Division is busier than ever, ensuring the Town’s public spaces are clean, properly maintained, and ready for the season’s events.
Windsor is home to 19 community and neighborhood parks. The parks maintenance crew is comprised of 10 full-time staff and several part-time staff servicing approximately 110 acres of public parks and 26 miles of streetscapes. Working 7 days per week, 365 days per year, the crew operates in a Total Efficient Area Maintenance (or TEAM) system. Developed and implemented by Parks and Facilities Superintendent Charlie Johnson in 2011, the TEAM approach involves two-person teams tackling a quadrant of town, with each team responsible for the care and maintenance of their area, including all pruning, irrigation, field maintenance, restroom, and garbage servicing.
The facilities crew is comprised of two full-time staff, who maintain the Town’s public buildings, including the Civic Center, Huerta Gymnasium, Community Center, Windsor Senior Recreation Center, Bluebird Center, and the Public Works Corporation Yard. Their workload varies daily and typically includes troubleshooting electrical, plumbing, and HVAC issues; their latest projects included installing the Wisdom Tree Mural on the side of the Huerta Gymnasium and preparing the Senior Recreation Center for its grand reopening.
Working behind the scenes with the Superintendent and crew are two administrative staff. They provide customer service to the public and support the division with invoicing, contract processing, and special projects.
This year’s toughest challenge? Weeds. Record rains followed by warm weather contributed to the robust growth of weeds this season. While they may be an eye sore, the weeds reflect the Town’s efforts to protect the environment, the public, and worker health and safety through its Integrated Pest Management Policy. The policy bans the use of synthetic pesticides and fosters the use of organic alternatives.
“We test approved products as they become available, but we still rely heavily on mechanical methods,” Johnson explains. Circuit Rider’s Ecological Restoration Crew has provided additional weed abatement support this season. “We appreciate the community’s patience as we develop a healthier, organic, and natural landscape environment.”
An uptick in graffiti is another challenge the team has faced this season. Along with rapid removal procedures, cameras have been installed in various parks and are accessible to the Town of Windsor Police Department should the footage be necessary.
While responding to vandalism is less than idyllic, the tight-knit team takes pride in knowing that the Town’s public spaces are clean and safe. As many crewmembers are also Windsor residents, they make every effort to respond quickly and provide excellent service. Johnson encourages residents to contact the division directly with any concerns.
“We do our best, but the residents are our eyes and ears,” Johnson states.
With exciting projects in the works, including a pickleball court, the Keiser Park Master Plan, a pump track, and more, the Parks and Facilities team looks forward to helping make Windsor a safe, clean, and fun place to work and play!
The Parks and Facilities Maintenance Division can be contacted by phone at (707) 838-5399.
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