Park Department

Jim Kurkowski
Director

The Park Department is responsible for the maintenance of all City parks, the Whittier Civic Center complex which includes the County of Los Angeles Courthouse and Health Department grounds; landscaped public grounds, landscaped street medians and divider strips; the Uptown Historic District, including the landscaped parking lots and galleries, planting and maintaining parkway trees throughout the City and for parkway weed abatement. In addition, the Department is also responsible for studying, planning, and coordinating construction or renovation of park and landscaped facilities and acting as a review agency for Community Development and Public Works projects throughout the City. Click here for information on Park Locations and Facilities.

The Park Department, through a combination of in-house staff and contractors, maintains twenty-two park areas comprised of four large community parks, fourteen small neighborhood parks, two wilderness parks, and two sports complexes. The Parks Department also maintains two non-park areas, Founders Memorial Park and the historic Bailey House.

Major Program Goals

  • Provide better recreational opportunities in the community by renovating and upgrading facilities and better utilizing existing space within park and recreation areas.
  • Acquire and develop open space for park purposes when the opportunities occur.
  • Continue beautification efforts within the City.
  • Continue departmental computerization and automation programs.
  • Administer and maintain the City's urban forest.
  • Assist in the Whittier Hills Preservation efforts through the Puente Hills Landfill Native Habitat Preservation Authority NHPA Citizens Technical Advisory Committee, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and other Joint Powers Authorities involved.
  • Promote and implement safety programs
  • Assist other city departments

Responsibilities of the Park Department

  • Park facility maintenance and repairs
  • Play equipment maintenance
  • Landscape maintenance
  • Irrigation installation and maintenance
  • Street median landscape maintenance
  • Administration of landscape maintenance contracts
    • Inspection of landscape and irrigation portions of Public Works projects
    • City wide new development landscape plan review
  • Maintenance of parkway trees
    • Trimming
    • Planting, staking, fertilizing
    • Tree trimming contract administration
    • Emergency response involving parkway trees
  • Pool and fountain maintenance
  • Welcome Sign maintenance
  • Installation of flags and decorations on designated holidays
  • Administer Greenwaste/Recycle Programs in the parks
  • Administer volunteer labor, Court Referral Program and County GR Work Program, Scout projects, etc.

Click here to view the City of Whittier Parkway Tree Tips