What are the responsibilities and job description for the Park Maintenance Worker I position at City of La Mesa?
Position Summary
Join our team as a skilled Park Maintenance Worker and help maintain and beautify community parks!
The City of La Mesa is filling one (1) vacant Park Maintenance Worker I position in the Parks and Recreation Department.
Future Scheduled Salary Increases
5.0% increase effective July 1, 2026
5.0% increase effective July 1, 2027
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
The Park Maintenance Worker position will perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled grounds gardening and turf maintenance duties involved in the development, maintenance, and repair of landscaped areas, parks, playgrounds, and public facilities; operate a variety of park maintenance equipment; and participate in the beautification of parks, playground, and public facilities.
This is the entry level class in the Park Maintenance Worker series. This class is distinguished from the Park Maintenance Worker II by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits a structured and established pattern, which has been established and explained before the work is started. Generally, changes in procedures or exceptions are explained in detail as they arise.
The schedule for this position is 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (9/80 schedule). This position works Wednesdays through Saturdays and alternating Tuesdays, with Sundays, Mondays, and alternate Tuesdays off.
Key Responsibilities
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training
Formal or informal education or training that ensures the ability to read and write at a level necessary for successful job performance.
Experience
Six months of experience performing a variety of grounds maintenance work is desirable.
License Or Certificate
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Special Requirements
Employees in this position are subject to mandatory drug and alcohol testing as required by the Department of Transportation. The applicant selected will be given a conditional offer of employment pending the outcome of a post-offer physical and drug screen. Additionally, applicants will be required to provide written authorization allowing the City to contact previous employers to determine if the applicant has previously tested positive for drugs or alcohol or refused to submit for testing.
Examination Process
Interested applicants must submit an online application, a cover letter, and a completed supplemental questionnaire by the closing deadline of 11:59 p.m. on April 14, 2026. Unless specifically stated otherwise in this announcement, all requirements must be met at the time of application, and all required licenses and certificates must be current and valid. Candidates whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the City will be invited to participate in the examination process for this position. The examination process may consist of any or all of the following components: Appraisal interview and practical skills assessment. Eligible candidates will be notified if selected for interview and testing.
Schedule Of Events
April 14, 2026 - Recruitment Closes
April 28, 2026 - Appraisal Interview & Practical Skills Assessment
Join our team as a skilled Park Maintenance Worker and help maintain and beautify community parks!
The City of La Mesa is filling one (1) vacant Park Maintenance Worker I position in the Parks and Recreation Department.
Future Scheduled Salary Increases
5.0% increase effective July 1, 2026
5.0% increase effective July 1, 2027
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
The Park Maintenance Worker position will perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled grounds gardening and turf maintenance duties involved in the development, maintenance, and repair of landscaped areas, parks, playgrounds, and public facilities; operate a variety of park maintenance equipment; and participate in the beautification of parks, playground, and public facilities.
This is the entry level class in the Park Maintenance Worker series. This class is distinguished from the Park Maintenance Worker II by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits a structured and established pattern, which has been established and explained before the work is started. Generally, changes in procedures or exceptions are explained in detail as they arise.
The schedule for this position is 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (9/80 schedule). This position works Wednesdays through Saturdays and alternating Tuesdays, with Sundays, Mondays, and alternate Tuesdays off.
Key Responsibilities
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
- Perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled grounds, gardening and turf maintenance duties involved in the development, maintenance, and repair of landscaped areas, parks, playgrounds, and public facilities.
- Perform routine maintenance duties such as mowing and edging grass, operating a weed eater, blowing leaves on sidewalks and parking lots, removing and trimming shrubbery, raking leaves and debris, and removing graffiti/vandalism.
- Perform a variety of duties in the maintenance and repair of irrigation systems; adjust and maintain timers and controllers; repair sprinkler heads and lines; locate and repair water breaks; refer problems to higher level park maintenance staff as required.
- Plant, water and maintain landscaped areas consisting of turf, bushes, trees, flowers, and shrubs; trim and prune bushes, trees and shrubs; water, mow, weed, renovate, and fertilize lawns.
- Identify turf, shrub, and tree diseases, parasites and other problems.
- Perform maintenance and repairs on various equipment including playground equipment, picnic tables, gates, fences, and tree stakes.
- Assist in moving and installing park and recreation equipment such as bleachers, backstops, and playground equipment.
- Perform routine maintenance and repair activities for park facilities; clean restrooms and stock materials and supplies; assist in building repairs including carpentry, painting and plumbing repairs.
- Perform general grounds cleaning; clean and maintain assigned areas; pick up and discard trash and litter.
- Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information within the area of assignment; resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
- Operate and maintain a variety of landscaping equipment including sprayers, edgers, blowers, hedge trimmers, weed eaters and related equipment.
- Operate a variety of small hand power tools and equipment such as push mowers, riding mowers, shovels, rakes, chainsaws, and other equipment in support of parks maintenance and repair operations.
- Maintain records of time spent performing various maintenance functions; provide assistance in preparing records and files.
- As assigned perform grounds maintenance chemical application duties; store, mix and spray herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides; ensure proper application of all materials; ensure equipment is operating properly; perform all duties in compliance with City and other mandated health and safety rules and regulations.
- Drive vehicles used to transport materials, tools, and equipment as required.
- Assist and train less experienced personnel.
- May be assigned a variety of duties to assist in street, sewer, and other public works maintenance and repair projects.
- Prepare ground for concrete or asphalt work; assist with concrete work as necessary.
- Perform related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training
Formal or informal education or training that ensures the ability to read and write at a level necessary for successful job performance.
Experience
Six months of experience performing a variety of grounds maintenance work is desirable.
License Or Certificate
Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.
Special Requirements
Employees in this position are subject to mandatory drug and alcohol testing as required by the Department of Transportation. The applicant selected will be given a conditional offer of employment pending the outcome of a post-offer physical and drug screen. Additionally, applicants will be required to provide written authorization allowing the City to contact previous employers to determine if the applicant has previously tested positive for drugs or alcohol or refused to submit for testing.
Examination Process
Interested applicants must submit an online application, a cover letter, and a completed supplemental questionnaire by the closing deadline of 11:59 p.m. on April 14, 2026. Unless specifically stated otherwise in this announcement, all requirements must be met at the time of application, and all required licenses and certificates must be current and valid. Candidates whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the City will be invited to participate in the examination process for this position. The examination process may consist of any or all of the following components: Appraisal interview and practical skills assessment. Eligible candidates will be notified if selected for interview and testing.
Schedule Of Events
April 14, 2026 - Recruitment Closes
April 28, 2026 - Appraisal Interview & Practical Skills Assessment
- Please note interview and assessment dates are subject to change.