City official expects local parks to ‘look a little ratty’

The impact of budget cuts and reduced staffing will start to show at city parks, officials said this week.

Glendale Parks Services Administrator Gary Marello told the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission this week that due to fewer workers, local parks are going to “look a little ratty.”

“It’s not going to look as manicured,” Marello said as he laid out a new park maintenance work plan.

The plan includes less turf maintenance and debris blowing and rotating staff at parks throughout the day, rather than stationing workers at the same site all day. Bathroom maintenance and litter pickup will not be impacted, Marello said.

“There’ll be a definite dramatic impact come March,” he said, noting that park visitors may see shaggier turf, taller grass around posts, unkept edges and plant debris along hardscape areas.

He also said there will be a slower response time to complaints and emergencies due to workers not being stationed at the parks.

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-- Brittany Levine, Times Community News

Twitter: @BrittanyLevine

Photo: Clooney the Golden retriever goes over obstacles during K9’s in the Park demonstration at Verdugo Park in Glendale on Saturday, October 15, 2011. Credit: Raul Roa / Staff Photographer