PARKS DIVISIONS Profile The Parks Department is responsible for the comprehensive maintenance of the District’s 140 parks as well as providing support to recreational programs. The Department is organized into four geographic maintenance divisions (Riverwalk, North, Central, and South), collectively overseeing an expansive area of approximately 40 square miles and managing more than 2,400 acres of parkland. These parks range from high-use, heavily programmed spaces, including the Riverwalk and sports complexes, to less labor- intensive areas such as greenways, preservation lands, and undeveloped parcels. To ensure efficient use of resources and promote uniformity throughout the park system, the department employs a maintenance classification system to guide service levels based on park type and usage. Each park is assigned a mode matrix designation, with the Riverwalk receiving the highest standard of care. Other parks are classified within a range of levels (Mode I through Mode V), which determine the frequency and intensity of scheduled maintenance activities throughout the year. In addition to these scheduled tasks, parks undergo regular written and visual inspections. These inspections are supported by communication tools including the District’s new online maintenance request portal, Maintenance Matters, and the NPD Info email system, which enable staff to promptly address identified issues. In recent years, the Parks Department, in collaboration with the Planning Department, has advanced a range of sustainability and conservation initiatives. Notable programs include
the Sustainable Parks Initiative, Park Meadow Projects, Shoreline Stabilization, the Natural Area Maintenance Plan, and Pond, River, and Shoreline Improvement projects. Together with the use of the mode matrix, frequent site inspections, and engagement with the community, the department is able to sustain a flexible work plan on an annual basis. Staffing requirements, material needs, and the allocation of resources are all identified within the plan to meet maintenance objectives. This work plan is driven by the District’s new Computerized Maintenance Management System, OpenGov, which will be fully implemented for use by the department in January 2026. The Parks department (excluding Fleet) employs 41 full-time staff members, including: the Director of Parks, 3 Park Operations Managers, 3 Administrative Assistants, 5 Park Specialist II, 25 Park Specialist I, and 4 Park Support staff. Approximately 50 part-time employees supplement the workforce, including 28 health insurance eligible positions (Park Maintenance III & IV). Building on the approach taken in previous years, this budget continues to reflect a strategic shift by reallocating funding from several hard-to- fill, seasonal part-time positions to more desirable part-time roles that are benefit-eligible and 9- or 12-month in duration. While the reallocation of short-term wages has proven successful in staff recruitment, it can result in an overall loss of total labor hours worked or a shift in seasons when the hours are realized. Following the success of this approach, each division will continue leveraging increases in Miscellaneous Services accounts to contract
with outside vendors to address maintenance backlogs and to provide support during peak activity periods. At the conclusion of the fiscal year, unspent wages are often redirected to contractual services, helping to mitigate staffing gaps and preserve service levels. It is expected that contractual labor will remain an important tool in future annual maintenance plans. The Parks department remains committed to enhancing and maintaining the District’s natural areas, including woodlands, prairies, meadows, greenways, and shoreline buffers. Evolving pond maintenance challenges, driven by changing environmental conditions, continue to require more frequent interventions and alternative treatment strategies. As special events, tournaments, and recreational programs expand, the demands for adaptable staffing will increase, requiring ongoing adjustments in workforce planning and resource allocation. Accordingly, wage and supply budgets for 2026 have been carefully refined to ensure the department is prepared for these evolving needs as well as potential upcoming park expansions.
2026 BUDGET 48
napervilleparks.org
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