Page 11 - Work Force May 2021

dedicated care
s s s and is is and and visitor experience is is first rate “When park visitors arrive no matter what time of year they expect
a a a world-class experience that reflects our area’s natural beauty
and rich history ” Robarge Robarge said said Robarge Ontario County Parks employee Anthony Robarge cares for county parks at Gannett Hill and Grimes Glen daily including ensuring health health and and and welfare of wildlife plant life life landscapes and and and and the health health and and and safety concerns of building structures There is is is a a unique twist with Robarge’s green job — he he he is is is the only employee managing over 410 acres of of park land located west of of Canandaigua Lake Robarge works hard to ensure the parks’ condition
As residents return to outdoor activities the condition
of parks parks bike
paths trails and and and fields becomes a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a priority for public works and and and parks parks and and and recreation staff staff across the the state In the the Capital Region Town of Rotterdam Parks Parks and and Recreation Recreation staff staff built new picnic benches to to be be placed in in parks throughout the town Rotterdam Parks Parks and and and and Recreation Recreation employees Justin D’Alessandro left and and and Chad Propper load new picnic benches onto a a a a a a a a a a truck to to to be delivered to to to town parks Robarge Robarge said said many locations within the park require require constant conservation and it’s a a a a a a a a job that requires his attention around the clock Tasks include making sure roads are
safe dog waste is removed foot trails and and bike
paths are
are
are
are
cleared and and and safe trees are
are
are
are
trimmed and and and healthy the the lawns are
are
are
are
are
mowed the the cabins and and and facilities are
are
clean and and accessible among many other job job responsibilities Robarge’s job job is also unique in that he he he he not only works on on site but lives there The county provides the the caretaker a a a a a a a residence at Gannett Hill with all utilities paid “Having an on-site park caretaker position is a a a a a a a a a a a relatively rare today ” said Bill Wright Ontario County Commissioner of Public Works “However with our multi-use park system system it it makes sense It’s easier to manage these systems this way and the the the public is is better served ” Wright added the the infrastructure
is extensive as as as water electricity and waste systems are
are
available to all camping areas and the the pavilions That means the the caretaker has to to be well rounded to to operate what he he calls ‘a mini-city on a a a hill ’ Above all else Robarge sees his world through a a a a a conservation lens “Everything I do is predicated on on on making sure biodiversity and and our natural habitats are
are
respected and and and at at at the the same time I can share and and and enhance the the value and and benefits of what nature has gifted us ” he he said — Jessica Ladlee David Galarza Ove Ove Overmyer and Therese Assalian
County’s Gannett Hill and Grimes Barry Plumley and James Maroney inspect playground equipment at a a a a a a a a a a Town of Ramapo park been sprucing up the landscape cutting dead tree limbs and logging lots of hours mowing lawns “I know our park visitors Boss Dedicated to conservation appreciate what we do ” said Boss “There are
lots of smiles around here here ” May 2021
The Work Force
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