Page 10 - Work Force May 2021

PA ristine public parks get constant s s s s s s s s s more more New New New Yorkers receive their from New New New York York City and and just over the the the is is teeming with visitors and and flowers and and visitor is is COVID-19 vaccinations they border into New New New Jersey ” in in in in in in in in full bloom With With more more people park are
preparing for a a a a a a a a a a a a warm weather season full of activities at at at state and local parks which serve as as valuable resources that allow people to enjoy the outdoors in in an inexpensive way CSEA members play a a a a a a a a vital role in in in in in in maintaining these parks whether it’s keeping the the the the facilities pristine or ensuring the the public’s safety Here’s a a a a a a a a look at at what CSEA members are
are
doing to prepare for a a a a a a a a season in in the ‘new normal ’ Pandemic boosts appreciation
In the Town of Ramapo in Rockland County parks and and other recreational facilities have been busier than ever over the past year drawing many families and out-of- towners As the the the county has one of the the the highest COVID-19 rates in the the the state parkgoers have been desperate for sources of safe outdoor fun “The parks are
are
a a a a a a a gem in this area ” said Rockland County Local President Chris Vogel a a a a a a a a parks maintenance supervisor for the town “The majority of people coming to to our facilities are
local but we’ve also had a a a a a a lot of people With cooped-up residents looking to to access town facilities workers ramped up safety precautions regularly disinfecting park equipment and and making hand sanitizer available Vogel said town officials went out of of their way to to provide personal protective equipment and other safety measures Town buildings including the bubble-enclosed recreation building used for year- round sports were outfitted
with biometric tablets that take temperatures and even detect whether an an an entrant was masked Workers are
gearing up now to to open the town summer camp which has its own own own dedicated facility and two town pools The most unique project in in the the works is happening
at the the sports complex where CSEA members have been busy pouring truckloads of sand for a a a a a a new beach volleyball court With residents still less likely to to leave town for vacation this summer CSEA members are
ensuring they don’t miss out on on summer fun Scenic park draws crowds
In Queens Gantry Plaza State Park
being vaccinated the park is now seeing more traffic “At the the height
of the the the pandemic [the park] was like a a a a cemetery People started to come out again
as as as soon as as as the cases dropped ” said Gantry Plaza State Park
worker Jose Perez who
maintains the 12-acre urban oasis “People come from all over because they are
enchanted by the the views ” A former working waterfront with iconic and and restored gantries that were once used to to load load and and and unload rail car floats and and barges the the serene park is is now used by sunbathers as a a a a a a a a a a set for for television shows and and movies and and and for for recreational recreational recreational recreational fishing and and family picnics “I know it’s going to be very busy this summer ” said Perez “Last year it was like we we were all prisoners Now people just want to be free free ” Aside from the freedom of working outdoors state parks like Gantry especially in a a a a a a a a city as as congested
as as New York provide workers and patrons with another invaluable benefit “This is is is therapy for me as much as as it is is is work ” said Perez “I feel very comfortable here I I I I know what I I I I have to do do and I I get it done ” Gearing up for busy season CSEA members who
work at the Livingston County Central Services Department are
responsible for the the the operation of the the the idyllic 80-acre Al Lorenz Park
located on on the the the the Mt Morris County Campus near the the Genesee River and Letchworth State Park
CSEA members work hard to keep the park pristine and and inviting “Area residents and and our our visitors love our our public services especially Jose Perez takes great pride in in in in maintaining Gantry Plaza State Park
Perez Anthony Robarge helps maintain Ontario Glen parks our parks and outdoor spaces ” said Jeff Hopkins a a a a building maintenance mechanic Hopkins said he and his co-
workers have been working extra
hard getting the park spruced up for a a a a a busy spring and summer season “Even though it’s early in the year folks have already been flocking to to our parks spending time hiking the trails fishing in in in in in in stocked ponds playing basketball on on our our new courts and grilling up a a a a a a storm ” said Hopkins “To work this job you have to be sort of of a a a a a a a a jack-of-all- trades Every job assignment handed down requires us us to use a a a a a a variety
of skills including electrical work landscaping masonry carpentry plumbing and and so so much more ” Laborer Ethan Boss said the immediate focus for his work has Hopkins 10 The Work Force
May 2021