Parks & Recreation Maintenance Associate I

City of Decatur; Decatur (AL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Decatur in Alabama seeks a Parks Maintenance Associate to keep parks, athletic fields, and recreation facilities clean, safe, and welcoming for the community.

You will perform turf care, landscaping, athletic field prep, and facility upkeep, supporting tournaments, events, and programs while working outdoors in varying weather and collaborating with city staff.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience or apprenticeship/internship, or 1–2 years in a similar parks maintenance role.
• Valid Alabama driver's license or ability to obtain one.
• Knowledge of parks and grounds maintenance principles.
• Knowledge of athletic field maintenance principles.
• Ability to operate hand and power tools.
• Skill in using a variety of grounds maintenance tools and equipment.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining city parks, athletic fields, and related facilities; prepare fields for play.
• Install and maintain landscaping.
• Remove litter and debris from playgrounds, parking lots, and park facilities; empty trash receptacles.
• Assist in preparing for tournaments, special events, and programs.
• Trim and care for trees, bushes, and ornamental plants.
• Inspect playgrounds and report maintenance needs.
• Assist in repair and maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Perform minor carpentry, plumbing, and electrical repairs.
• Assist in repairing irrigation systems.
• Perform related duties.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Athletic field maintenance

Tool handling

Interpersonal relations

Oral and written communication

Problem solving

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Hand tools

Power tools

Grounds equipment

Job description

Job Summary

Are you someone who takes pride in your work, enjoys working outdoors, and wants to make a visible difference in your community? The City of Decatur is seeking a dedicated Parks Maintenance Associate to help keep our parks, athletic fields, and recreation facilities safe, clean, attractive, and ready for the community to enjoy. In this role, you’ll be more than a maintenance employee—you’ll play an important part in maintaining the spaces where Decatur residents gather, play, compete, and create lasting memories. From caring for turf and landscaping and preparing athletic fields to maintaining facilities and supporting tournaments, special events, and community programs, your work will help ensure Decatur’s parks are welcoming, safe, and well-maintained for everyone.

Major Duties

• Assists in the maintenance of city parks, athletic fields, and related facilities; performs turf management duties; prepares athletic fields for play.
• Installs and maintains landscaping.
• Removes litter and debris from playgrounds, parking lots, pavilions, and other park facilities; empties trash receptacles.
• Assists in preparing for tournaments, special events, and programs.
• Trims, removes and provides care for trees, bushes and ornamental plants.
• Inspects playground and reports maintenance needs to supervisor.
• Assists in the repair and maintenance of tools and equipment.
• Performs minor carpentry, plumbing, and electrical repairs.
• Assists in repairing of irrigation systems.
• Performs related duties.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Sufficient experience to understand the basic principles relevant to the major duties of the position, usually associated with the completion of an apprenticeship/internship or having had a similar position for one to two years.
• Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Alabama for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
• Knowledge of parks and grounds maintenance principles and practices.
• Knowledge of athletic field maintenance principles.
• Skill in the use of hand and power tools.
• Skill in the use of a variety of grounds maintenance tools and equipment.
• Skill in problem solving.
• Skill in interpersonal relations.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

Supplemental Information

Guidelines: City and department policies and procedures. These guidelines are generally clear and specific but may require some interpretation in application.

Complexity/Scope of Work

• The work consists of related maintenance duties. Inclement weather contributes to the complexity of the work.
• The purpose of this position is to assist in the maintenance of city parks and recreation facilities. Successful performance in this position contributes to provision of safe and well-maintained parks.

Contacts

• Contacts are typically with coworkers, other city personnel, vendors, and the general public.
• Contacts are typically to resolve problems and provide services.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• This position requires frequent physical activity and the ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. The employee may be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, grease, and machinery with moving parts. Work requires the use of protective devices such as masks, goggles, gloves, etc.
• The employee may regularly stand, walk, bend, stoop, crouch, kneel, climb, reach, and use hand and power tools.
• The position requires the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials, equipment, and other objects of varying weights; work on uneven terrain; and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity, coordination, and physical stamina.
• The employee frequently lifts light and occasionally heavy objects, climbs ladders, uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, distinguishes between shades of color, and utilizes the sense of smell.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility

None.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.