Parks and Recreation Aide

City of Carbondale, Illinois

Job Description

Title: Parks and Recreation Aide

Dept./Div.: Parks and Recreation

Nature of Work : The position assists with maintaining the facilities and grounds of City of Carbondale public parks including Turley Park, Evergreen Park, Tatum Heights Park, Superblock, and Pyles Fork Greenway. The parks and recreation aide will work with and assist in supervising the seasonal staff with ground maintenance, preparation and maintenance of athletic fields including but not limited to field layout and striping, turf and infield maintenance, mowing, dragging infields, setting bases, and lining ball fields. Cleaning/open-close/maintenance of restrooms, playgrounds, operating and transportation of equipment, and other duties as needed to ensure that all park facilities are well-maintained.

This position requires a minimum of five days/forty hours work per week, some of which may be scheduled during holidays, evenings, and weekends.

Essential Duties:

1. Assist with supervising, training seasonal workers, and internship positions.
2. Perform landscaping maintenance, including but not limited to weeding, raking, mulching, mowing, string-trimming, planting, pruning, watering, flower bed maintenance, snow & ice removal from sidewalks.
3. Mowing and maintaining turf grass, applying pesticides, preparing athletic fields for practice and league play.
4. Keeping parks, athletic grounds, and structures free of graffiti, litter, and all other debris.
5. Works with and operates various equipment, including trucks and trailers, zero-turn mowers, ATV/UTV, and small equipment and hand tools used in the maintenance of parks.
6. Checking the parks for vandalism and making necessary minor repairs; reporting all vandalism to the Parks & Rec Supervisor.
7. Perform facility maintenance, including but not limited to restocking restrooms, disposing of trash and emptying garbage cans, sweeping and mopping, and clearing picnic shelters and grills.
8. Reporting to the Parks & Rec Supervisor and correcting all hazards and undesirable conditions immediately.
9. Open and/or lock park facilities and gates as directed
10. Ability to successfully and safely operate equipment required to complete assigned tasks, including but not limited to string trimmers, push mowers, zero turn mowers, tractors, chainsaws, backpack and handheld blowers, and hand tools.
11. Utilize Personal Protective Equipment when performing duties, based on job tasks.
12. Comprehend and follow both verbal and written instructions, and sometimes over a two-way radio and/or telephone
13. Ability to safely and within legal guidelines operate vehicles to and from daily assigned work sites
14. Work effectively both independently and as a team member
15. Use tact and good judgment and utilize strong and effective interpersonal skills in interacting with co-workers and members of the community

Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned for the overall operation of Parks and Recreation.

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors with prolonged standing; while exposed to extreme weather conditions to include heat, cold, sun, snow, rain, wind, and ice; while outside for long periods of time; and, while being exposed to various chemicals to include fertilizers, pesticides, cleaning agents, fuels, etc. Protective equipment such as ear plugs, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves and steel toe shoes are worn.

Physical Demands: Work requires frequent physical effort such as standing, walking, bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying objects of moderate weight 15-49 pounds for short durations, and infrequent lifting of objects up to 100 pounds. Work also requires the employee to perceive and/or discriminate colors, sounds, depth, and texture.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications : Must have a high school diploma or equivalent; experience in p arks or facilities operations, landscaping, or ground maintenance. Strong knowledge and experience in lawn care and lawn equipment. Must possess and maintain a valid CDL Class B Illinois drivers license with airbrake & tanker within 60 days of employment. Must possess and maintain State of Illinois Pesticide Applicator License within 10 months of employment. Must pass pre-employment and ongoing random drug screenings and pre-employment background check.

Regular, Full-time Position/Overtime Eligible

Benefits Include :

Medical/Dental/Vision

Life Insurance

Retirement pension (IMRF)

457 deferred compensation plan

Employee Assistance Program

10 days of vacation /12 days of sick leave per year

12 city holidays, plus one floating holiday

Section 125 pretax deductions

Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

Salary: Grade 4 $22.50

Residency Boundary Requirement

Submit completed City of Carbondale Application for Employment and resume to the Human Resources Office, 200 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois 62901. Application and full job description may be obtained at City Hall or printed from the Citys website at to the City of Carbondale. Position is open until filled. The City of Carbondale is an Equal Opportunity Employer.