Page 6 - Searcy Parks Rec 2015

JENNIFER ELLIS/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Larry Moore carefully maneuvers a mower in to cut the grass at the Searcy Sports Complex.The maintenance crew is responsible for the upkeep of more than 180 acres in the city’s parks and recreational areas.
A cut above the rest
Searcy Parks and Recreation’s maintenance crew keeps parks in tip-top shape
JENNIFER ELLIS/THREE RIVERS EDITION
Justin Gehring helps keep the maintenance crew’s equipment performing well by sharpening mower blades.
By Cody Graves
SPECIAL SECTIONS WRITER
It’s a typical weekday morning for Justin Gehring. Sparks are flying off a bench grinder as he sharpens a lawnmower blade at the Searcy Parks and Recre- ation’s maintenance shop on Higgin-
son Street; the sparks are reflected in his sunglasses. Behind him, two other employees park two large riding lawnmowers in the shop for maintenance, their engines rumble and sputter as they are shut off. While one round of mowing may be over, the day is
just starting for this team dedicated to the upkeep of the city’s parks.
The Searcy Parks and Recreation depart- ment’s maintenance crew is responsible for the upkeep of more than 180 acres in the city’s parks. From repairing buildings and tak- ing out the trash to cutting the grass and putting lines on the softball fields, this small crew keeps the parks looking great for the residents of Searcy.
Steve Jackson, maintenance super visor, said his crew is invaluable to the mission of the Parks and Recreation Department, which is to provide the best recreational programs,
special events, facilities and ser vices possible to the city and its visitors.The maintenance crew has six employees — in the summer, a few extra are hired to help — who take on the task of keeping the park facilities ready for use and looking good.
“Our biggest challenge is doing what we have to do with the money and the man- power we have,” he said. “All my guys take pride in what they do. Sometimes we wish we could do better than what we do. ... I think we’re ver y impor tant.”
One of the projects currently underway is the new playground at Carmichael Park.
The playground features a modern, metal play area with plastic slides, monkey bars and more.The crew is also building new bath- rooms at the White County Pioneer Village, a collection of 19th-centur y buildings that provides visitors a glimpse into the lives of Arkansas’ settlers.
Randy Rudesill has been on the main- tenance crew for about a year and a half. Before that, he was an iron worker for about 35 years. He said the iron-working job kept him on the road and away from his family most of the time, but now that he’s working for the city, he spends every night at home.
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