PARKS AND RECREATION
Photo provided by Brad Thedens , CSFM
“ Most turf professionals have always been leaders in responsible stewardship of the environment ,” said Neighbor . “ Integrated Pest Management ( IPM ) is one example of a practice that industry professionals have been using for decades . I like to say that targeted use of the right product with the right amount is how IPM came about .”
Ferguson said his department has invested in technology such as robotic painters to cut down on fuel emissions and GPS-guided spray rigs to ensure that there is not an unnecessary amount of chemical being applied .
“ I have turned much more to the train of thought with fertilization that if I feed the soil with more organically based fertilizers and not focus solely on feeding the plant that I can achieve a great deal of success ,” Ferguson added .
According to Puopolo , he has worked with his city to develop an IPM plan that touches on many different departments .
“ I always try to explain to people that it suits us in a lot of different ways to be as sustainable as possible ,” he said . “ It doesn ’ t serve me well to go out and dump as much pesticide as possible . Everything we do every day has an impact on sustainability . It ’ s part of our daily operations , and we are always trying to be better .”
THE BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION With that goal of trying to be better in mind , certification — as Certified Sports Field Managers and / or as Certified Park and Recreation Professionals ( CPRP ) — has helped our respondents attain respect in the industry , within their organizations , and in their communities .
“ Having that added credential — while the public may not know the full depth and scope of the association and the certification — is something that they can trust in the information we are giving them ,” said Puopolo .
Puopolo added that being certified has been a huge help when he is involved with city council meetings or parks commissions meetings , because the council members , commissioners and the community can trust in the feedback he provides .
“ Certification validated that we are professionals and not just the folks who cut the grass and paint a few lines ,” said Perruzzi . “ Early on in my career , it was hard to be recognized as a professional — especially as a “ parks ” employee . But showing my supervisors the drive and passion to take our fields to the next level and following through on this vision allowed us to secure resources to be able to further the improvement of our athletic fields .”
Neighbor added that certification demonstrates a commitment to the industry and a level of professionalism that some people outside of the green industry may not have known existed .
“ My certifications — CSFM and CPRP — have been used to show the expertise and commitment to the industry that I bring to my agency ,” said McNeal .
Said Hamilton , “ Being a CSFM doesn ’ t just open doors , it builds bridges between departments . This is an industry badge that opens opportunities to share what we do in an informative manner . With the knowledge I have gained , it has allowed me the opportunity to share with our staff and build our team . I encourage them to participate in learning opportunities to help them grow and show the possibilities to others .”
According to Ferguson , being a Certified Sports Feld Manager has helped provided him with the tools needed to address issues or concerns that come up during the construction of new facilities , as well as the knowledge and insight into an evolving industry through lessons learned and new resources .
Said Thedens , “ The knowledge , skills , continuing education and connections that have come with being a Certified Sports Field Manager have definitely helped me to not only try to provide safe , quality fields , but to also help educate decision-makers , parents , players and the community about the importance of sports field management in providing those desired outcomes .” SFM
John Kmitta is associate publisher and editorial brand director of SportsField Management magazine . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com July 2023 | SportsField Management
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