From the City of Alliance HR Office
While most of us are pulling out snow boots and wondering where we left our ice scrapers, the Parks Department is already ten steps ahead, getting every inch of Alliance’s outdoor spaces ready for winter. Their work this time of year might not be as visible as mowing in the summer, but it’s every bit as important. Parks Foreman Tad Prelle gave us a peek behind the scenes: “My team winterizes all the underground irrigation systems within the parks, cemetery, ballfield concession stands, public restrooms, fountain, and swimming pool. We use a commercial air compressor to blow air through the lines to force out every last drop of water,” he explained. “In areas like restrooms, pools, and concession stands, we even put RV antifreeze in drains and toilets to keep water from freezing.”
And when he says, “every last drop,” he means it. It takes about two and a half weeks for two team members to work their way through every system, roughly 30 different areas, and 140 acres of irrigation! (That’s a lot) “The most important thing is getting all the water out,” he said. “Water expands when it freezes, and if it has nowhere to go, it’ll break lines.” No one likes those kinds of surprises in the spring. Once the grass slows down (usually after a few hard freezes), the crew gives it a final cut, leaving it a bit longer (around 4 inches). “It actually helps protect the crown of the grass,” he said. But don’t think the Parks team gets to hibernate. As soon as the irrigation systems and restrooms are tucked in for the season, they turn their attention to… well, just about everything else.
When the weather cooperates, they tackle outdoor projects. When it doesn’t, they head indoors for equipment maintenance and repairs (they do all their own work), fixing benches, repainting park furnishings, and doing the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything looking sharp come spring. And of course, when the snow hits, they’re out clearing downtown sidewalks, City parking lots and buildings, and park walkways. Depending on the storm, snow removal can take multiple days. Even in the late fall, their attention to detail shows: “We’re still out picking up leaves,” said Tad. “It makes the parks look nice, but it also keeps the grass underneath from dying off under a wet, packed layer of leaves.” Before wrapping up, Tad shared a word of appreciation: “This summer was a challenging one. I’d like to commend Jake McCaffrey and Mark Rising for keeping the department running to the best of their abilities.” Kudos!
So, the next time you stroll through a quiet park in December or see the fountain patiently waiting for spring, know that the Parks team has already been there (air compressor, antifreeze, and all), making sure everything survives another Nebraska winter. Here’s to the crew who keep Alliance beautiful all year long, “weather” they’re mowing, blowing, shoveling, or snowplowing!