Rick Bold is presently the Superintendent of Parks for the Glencoe Parks-Recreation Department. Prior to his responsibilities in this capacity, he served as Parks Foreman with the Wilmette Park District for nearly five years. Rick attended Eastern Illinois University, and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Plant and Soil Sciences.

Mike Fugiel is the new Administrative Assistant for the Skokie Park District and formerly worked for the Franklin Park Park District. He is also a graduate of Southern Illinois University.

In recent months the American public has been confronted with a number of issues that center around tax reform, inflation, and the exhaustion of energy sources. A California citizen viewed Proposition 13 as "an issue about the people, too many people, who get a free ride in government—five people standing around to dig a hole when you need only one."¹

In regard to the same issue, Howard A. Jarvis commented ". . . the only way to cut government spending is not to give them money in the first place."² James C. Coomer, an energy research scientist, suggests ". . . that present energy sources may be exhausted before new energy sources can be developed and that a new national consensus with regard to conservation and moderation must be learned as a first step toward the future."³

These issues all point to the need for effective spending and stretching of tax dollars. In the provision of leisure services, the park and recreation agency must be able to better account for overall spending in the purchase of equipment. The purpose of this article is to present the considerations related to selection, versatility, and ease of repair in purchasing equipment.

In most cases, expenditures on the acquisitions of given brands or models of equipment are determined by specification and bidding processes. "The spending of this money provides a challenge to recreation officials, for, unless the best provisions are made for expenditure control and efficient operation, a weakening of confidence in public recreation will inevitably result."⁴ The initial decisions by park managers in the acquisition of equipment can prove to be an asset in building public confidence as well as the necessary first step in implementing and completing the various labor tasks within their operations.

The selection of proper equipment is a preliminary step to completing any task. The initial selection should be based upon the specific job requirements for that piece of equipment. The equipment's capabilities, including ease of operations, must be assessed by the park manager. For example, if a riding mower is to be advantageous in the maintenance of neighborhood parks, a primary consideration of selection should be ease of maneuverability. Assessing the width of the mower, the turning radius of the equipment, and the ease of transportation from one park site to another may save time and additional manpower.

Tied in with ease of operation are elements of safety. Equipment that is complex by nature is often more difficult to operate and may hinder the ability of employees to efficiently handle its operation. Seasonal work schedules do not allow for long training sessions or breakdowns as a result of misuse. The elements of safety are important to the operator using the equipment as well as the park patron who may be in the immediate area.⁵ A review of the safety features on the equipment may help prevent an accident and a possible increase in insurance premiums.

Versatility is another major consideration in purchasing equipment. The increasing prevalence of tight budgets necessitates the selection of equipment that can be used for a variety of tasks. Although there will always be the need for specialized equipment, park managers are increasingly forced to evaluate the potential of a particular item for performing more than one task. In the eyes of the taxpayer, the value of the equipment may well increase with each additional task it performs.

The availability of certain equipment for year-round use further reduces the need to purchase specialized equipment. In addition to the functional use of the equipment, reductions in operating costs can be realized in areas that previously required a greater number of machines and operators. Furthermore, year-round operation eliminates the need for full winterization, storage, and additional servicing prior to the "regular" season. Versatility increases the functional value of the equipment and the efficiency of operation while providing a savings in personnel costs and specialized equipment purchases.

The Glencoe Park-Recreation District recently encountered a situation

Illinois Parks and Recreation 8 March/April, 1980

where the versatility of a piece of equipment has been a valuable asset to the operation. At one time, snow removal from an outdoor hockey rink and the adjoining studio rink required three pieces of equipment and three operators. A thorough investigation of the market revealed that a particular brand of riding mower could be adapted with a large snow thrower capable of performing the required task. The subsequent purchase of this piece of equipment not only provided a means to adequately and efficiently remove snow from the ice rinks, but also replaced a riding mower and leaf mulcher. The versatility of the new piece of equipment has reduced operational costs for labor and energy by approximately fifty per cent.

Serviceability is another consideration when selecting a new piece of equipment. Maximum use from an item for an extended period of time requires proper servicing and relative ease of repair. However, good service begins with adequate training of parks department personnel in the repair and maintenance of equipment. For example, the initial justification for the selection of a diesel tractor may be its perceived economic advantages, but shortcomings later become apparent because of limited staff experience in repair of this type of equipment as well as in lack of proper tools to do so. So the need for additional staff training and the purchase of special tools must be taken into account. Standardization of equipment, where feasible, and consultation with those individuals responsible for repair and maintenance prior to purchasing may alleviate subsequent problems.

The reputation of a given brand or model regarding dependability and durability also warrants consideration. There is a definite need for a piece of equipment to consistently operate to its highest potential without requiring continuous service and/or repair. To prevent unnecessary "down time," it is essential to insure that the supplier has the ability to provide the necessary parts and service information to properly care for and repair the equipment on short notice. There is a further need to investigate the proximity of the supplier and availability of their service personnel. The parks manager should consult other operations that already utilize a given piece of equipment to draw from their experiences with a particular dealer.

Perhaps the best way to check out the equipment is to request an actual field demonstration. The operation of the equipment in a locale with similar conditions to that of the purchasing agency can provide the parks manager with a better estimation of its quality and overall capabilities.

Selling the need for equipment expenditures to the board of commissioners is by no means a simple task. The board may be adamantly opposed to the acquisition of any equipment for a variety of reasons ranging from color selection to the reputation of certain brands or dealers. The park manager, in conjunction with the chief executive of the district, must be prepared to justify the purchase of a particular piece of equipment. This process may include an analysis of budget priorities and explanation of the possibilities for cutting labor costs. In this manner, an initial investment may be justified in the savings experienced over an extended period of time. The shrinking value of the tax dollar will cause boards and commissions to scrutinize expenditures for equipment carefully in an effort to maintain public confidence. In light of these considerations, proper selection, versatility, and the ease of service may assist greatly in justifying the acquisition of a piece of equipment.

¹Richard Bozth, "The Big Tax Revolt," Newsweek, June 19, 1978, p. 28.

²Ibid., p. 27.

³James C. Coomer, "Solving the Energy Dilemma," The Futurist, August, l977, p. 228.

⁴Lynn S. Rodney, Administration of Public Recreation, New York, The Ronald Press Co., 1964, p. 231.

⁵Robert E. Sternloff and Roger Warren, Park and Recreation Maintenance Management, Boston, Holbrook Press Inc., 1977, p. 309.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 9 March/April, 1980