Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRS_Sunset Neighborhood Park Maintenance Manual 2017_v2_20170329.pdf LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PLAN SUNSET NEIGHBORHOOD PARK 2680 Sunset Lane NE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PARKS AND GOLF COURSE DIVISION April 3, 2017 SUNSET NEIGHBORHOOD PARK INTRODUCTION Sunset Neighborhood Park is a 3.2 acre park located east of I-405 and north of NE Sunset Boulevard in the Sunset Area of Renton. The park serves a diverse population, both in age and ethnicity, and is intended to serve the community that lives within one-half mile from the park. Sunset Neighborhood Park will be linked to area residences and businesses through a “Complete Streets” approach that creates a walkable community with a connective set of pedestrian, bicycle and public transportation. A regional stormwater facility with rain gardens is co-located within the park and provides the benefits of reduced storm water runoff and outdoor education opportunities. Park design elements include adult fitness equipment, two children’s play areas, a looped path system with mile markers, a water feature, picnic areas, a picnic gazebo with tables, performance seating/open space lawn with pergola and benches, a restroom building with notice boards, art locations and interpretive signs. Because of the high volume of visitation at Sunset Neighborhood Park, it is maintained at Level 1 standard. SUNSET NEIGHBORHOOD PARK CITY MAINTAINED PARKS – Level 1 State of the art maintenance applied to a high-quality diverse landscape and associated with high-traffic urban areas. These areas have individualized maintenance plans in addition to frequency schedules, and maintenance procedures. TURF CARE Grass height maintained according to species and variety of grass. Mowed at least once every five working days but may be as often as once every three working days depending on scheduled events. Aeration as required but not less than one time per year. Reseeding or sodding as needed. Weed control to be practiced so that no more than one (1) percent of the surface has weeds present. FERTILIZER Adequate fertilization applied to plant species according to their optimum requirements. Application rates and times should ensure an even supply of nutrients for the entire year. Because this park incorporates a surface water drain feature, only organic fertilizers will be used. Trees, shrubs, and flowers should also be fertilized with organic materials, according to their individual requirements of nutrients for optimum growth. Unusually long or short growing seasons may modify the chart slightly. IRRIGATION Sprinkler irrigated – electric automatic commonly used. Frequency of use follows, rainfall, temperature, season length, and demands of plant material. WATER FEATURE Maintain water feature pump and filters on a regular basis to ensure consistent water levels and water cleanliness. Test water quality on a regular basis. Remove leaves and debris from water feature on a daily basis. Perform seasonal start up and shut down functions. LITTER CONTROL Minimum of once per day, seven days per week. Extremely high visitation may increase the frequency. Receptacles should be plentiful enough to hold all trash usually generated between servicing without overflowing. PRUNING Frequency dictated primarily by species and variety of trees and shrubs. Length of growing season and design concept also a controlling factor – i.e., clipped vs. natural-style hedges. Timing scheduled to coincide with low demand periods or to take advantage of special growing characteristics. DISEASE AND INSECT CONTROL At this maintenance level, the controlling objective is to avoid public awareness of any problems. It is anticipated at Level 1 that problems will either be prevented or observed at a very early stage and corrected immediately. SNOW REMOVAL Application of snow-melting compound to frequently-used pathways is appropriate to reduce the danger of injury due to falls. NOTE: Sand should not be used for any part of this process. SURFACES Sweeping, cleaning, and washing of surfaces should be done so that at no time does an accumulation of sand, dirt, or leaves distract from the looks or safety of the area. On a semi-annual basis the pervious pavement at the park will be vacuumed according to manufacturer’s specifications. REPAIRS Repairs to all elements of the design should be done immediately when problems are discovered, provided replacement parts and technicians are available to accomplish the job. When disruption to the public might be major and the repair is not critical, repairs may be postponed to a time period that is least disruptive. INSPECTIONS A staff member should conduct a general inspection of park conditions at each site visit. SUNSET NEIGHBORHOOD PARK Maintenance Schedule Spring & Summer Schedule Monday thru Friday  Activate irrigation system, drinking fountain and water feature.  Check for defective sprinkler heads and or leaks in the pipes (breaks).  Check for defective operating sprinkler valves and repair.  Check systems for proper operations once a week.  Perform repairs and maintenance on an ongoing basis.  Make sure drinking fountain and water feature is working properly. Litter and trash removal is performed on a daily basis along with checking for vandalism and removing graffiti. Mow all turf areas with riding or hand mowers once a week, along with edging of turf. Turf areas are fertilized (organic fertilizers) and aerated annually. Manual removal of weeds in the turf area and shrub beds. Fresh bark will be placed in beds as needed. Check for damaged street trees and broken grates on all streets and pathways with Park Department trees. Trim hedges as needed. Sidewalks and concrete areas will be washed once a week. Play equipment will be inspected once every two weeks. Check timer for lights, especially at Daylight Savings and Pacific Standard Times. Check lights at this time also. Fall & Winter Schedule Monday thru Friday Routine seasonal maintenance: Fertilize, leaf removal, pruning of trees, winterize irrigation, water feature and drinking fountain. SUNSET NEIGHBORHOOD PARK Maintenance Activity Procedures 1. Hard Surface Maintenance Description: Inspect and manually pick up debris, litter, broken glass, etc., daily in parking areas and on walkways. Broom, dustpan, 5 gallon bucket and leather gloves will be needed for this task. 2. Bench Maintenance Description: Metal benches are inspected on site and any maintenance required is performed at location of bench. They are cleaned and inspected for graffiti and repainted if needed. Equipment needed: belt sander, vibrator sander, sand paper, paint, paint brushes, paint stripper, bucket with water and mild detergent. 3. Building Maintenance Description: Custodial services and building maintenance are performed by the Facilities Division of the Community Services Department. 4. Drinking Fountain Maintenance Description: Drinking fountain will be blown out and winterized before the first freeze and turned on and repaired if needed in the spring. Equipment needed: pump sprayer, sponge, hand toolbox and compressor. 5. Water Feature Maintenance Description: The water feature system will be turned on in the spring to ensure proper operation. The water feature timer must be checked and adjusted as needed. The pump and filters will need cleaning on a regular basis, and/or if operation is impaired. During the summer months, the system should be checked daily to ensure proper operation. Water feature will be blown out and winterized before the first freeze and turned on and repaired if needed in the spring. Equipment needed: pump sprayer, sponge, hand toolbox and compressor. 6. Garbage Can Maintenance Description: The number of park users largely affects how often the garbage can liners are changed. Liners may be changed as little as once per week during the winter months or several times daily during the summer months. Cans are washed once per year during fall or spring. After removal, garbage liners are deposited in the dumpster located at the Maintenance Shop. Equipment needed: plastic liners, brush, cleanser, hose and water. 7. Irrigation Maintenance Description: The irrigation system will be turned on in the spring to ensure proper operation. The DCVA must be tested by a certified backflow assembly tester. The appropriate forms must be completed and returned to the Public Works Department. Sprinkler clocks must be checked and adjusted as needed. Heads and valves may need cleaning if operation is impaired. During the summer months, the system should be checked daily to insure proper operation. Equipment needed: shovel, hand tools, spare irrigation parts, D.C.V.A. test kit and compressor. 8. Landscape Maintenance Description: Pruning, and weeding of all landscaped areas. Pruning is done in winter months. Weeding is done during summer. Equipment needed: tree saws, pruners, loppers, chainsaws, buckets, shovel, rakes (rock and grass). 9. Lighting Maintenance Description: Lights and their operation must be inspected throughout the park including parking areas and walkways at least two times a year: (1) Daylight Savings and (2) Pacific Standard Time. Replacing bulbs, ballast and repainting on an “as needed basis”. Clocks will need to be adjusted as daylight hours vary. Equipment needed: volt meter, toolbox of hand tools, bulbs, ballast, and ladder or boom truck. 10. Play Equipment Maintenance Description: Daily visual safety inspection is done, along with daily litter control. If any damage is noticed, then it must be reported or resolved. Weekly inspection is performed and a “Play Equipment Safety Checklist” form must be filled out, signed and dated by inspector. Any repairs must be fixed on the day of inspection or defective piece must be removed from service and properly repaired. Material must be raked back under swings and under slide to ensure all holes are filled in. Equipment needed: inspection sheet, toolbox of hand tools, rake, flat shovel and ladder. 11. Sign Maintenance Description: Repair or replacement of all signs in park. Equipment needed: hand tools, cloth or rag, banding machine, screws and shovel and ladder. 12. Tree Maintenance Description: Power and hand cutting and removal of deadwood, windfall and hazardous trees during fall and winter months. Manual removal of branches, limbs or twigs on a regular basis. Equipment needed: chainsaw, tree saw, ladders, pruners, eye, ear and face protection, shovel, auger, and boom truck. 13. Turf Maintenance Description: Maintaining grass areas requires performance of the following duties: mowing, edging, fertilizing, litter control, leaf removal, aerification, top dressing and liming. Mowing and edging will be done weekly. If there are too many grass clippings, then clippings are swept up, removed and dumped in recycle bin. Litter control is performed daily. Leaf removal is done October through December. Aerification, top dressing and liming are done once per year. Equipment needed: 72” and 60” deck mower, gas push mower, edger, tractor, aerator, fertilizer spreader and shovels. SUNSET NEIGHBORHOOD PARK Integrated Pest Management Best Management Practices The City of Renton Parks Division is responsible for maintaining public properties in a safe, clean, attractive, accessible and well-maintained condition for the public’s enjoyment of active and passive recreational opportunities along with natural resource and wildlife preservation and stewardship. The Parks Division protects and preserves the economic investment in the park system to the best of its abilities. It also recognizes its responsibilities to its employees, park users, and the general public, and uses the highest professional standards in the performance of duties. Integrated Pest Management is a process that uses a wide variety of strategies that minimizes negative impacts to the environment and on human health. The City utilizes IPM Best Management Practices that include manual, mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical methods to maintain turf and vegetation quality. The City practices the Five Primary Elements of IPM: 1. Prevention  Selection of appropriate plants for the site.  Replacement or removal of pest-susceptible plants.  Utilization of Best Management Practices (BMP’s) during construction including test plots utilizing different types of filter fabrics to determine the best fabric to install between the gravel sub-grade and top course/asphalt pavement and under the gravel shoulders for trail construction. The non-woven, felt fabric prohibited penetration of weeds.  Adequate site preparation before plantings are installed including soil improvements, pruning of surrounding vegetation, soil grade adjustments, drainage improvements and installation of irrigation systems.  Drainage problems addressed immediately to prevent pest/insect development.  Utilization of compost and other natural amendments to create healthy soil.  Aeration of turf areas.  Top dressing of turf areas.  Maintain proper turf cutting heights.  Mulching with grass clippings.  Mulching shrub beds for weed reduction, water retention, and winter protection.  Mechanical edging of turf.  Pruning tree and shrubs to increase air circulation to reduce susceptibility to disease and insect problems.  Removal of diseased, damaged, or dead wood from the plants.  Utilization of proper irrigation methods and application rates.  Vacuum walking paths. 2. Monitoring  Observe turf quality during mowing to determine presence of weed growth. Observe vegetation/landscape beds during landscape maintenance activities to determine levels of weed growth.  Perform and review soils tests.  Maintain application records.  Perform certified arborist evaluations.  Continue tree inventory program. 3. Tolerance Level for Pests  Maintain and evaluate a tolerance level for weeds in turf.  Accept a tolerance level for insects.  Accept a tolerance level for plant diseases.  Maintain and evaluate alternative methods for pest control.  Utilize thresholds for action and tolerance levels for different pests according to the site. (Maintenance Standards and Levels) 4. Treatment  Utilize Staff and volunteers (manual labor), mechanical, cultural, biological and chemical methods to control weeds.  Utilize mulch to control weeds in tree and shrub beds.  Utilize natural/biological methods (beneficial insects) to control insect infestations.  Rotate use of products to minimize resistance.  Where appropriate spot spray (target) chemical applications to minimize areas receiving chemicals.  Do not apply chemicals when wind speed is greater than 5 mph.  Aerate turf areas.  Vacuum walking paths.  Top dress turf areas.  Replace less tolerant trees with disease resistant varieties. 5. Evaluation  Perform field evaluations of turf, landscape areas and street trees.  Conduct soils tests.  City Aquifer Monitoring (Aquifer Protection Ordinance)  Utilize alternative pest reduction and alternatives to chemical use.  Research “Best Available Science” for alternatives to chemical use. It is important for the City of Renton to protect water quality, continue monitoring and to use appropriate methods to manage vegetation.