Jim Dietrich Park & Riverside Basin Park Master Site ... - Berks County

Cyclic Maintenance
In addition to daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual repairs, the park requires cyclic maintenance as shown in
Table 4. Cyclic maintenance deals with the normal replacement of a capital item such as a roof. Cyclic repairs
are a function of weather, use, and other circumstances such as natural events. The cyclic repairs are shown in
the following table. Because the time frame is years away, projecting actual costs is not possible. The American
Public Works Association recommends budgeting two to four percent of the development costs annually to
establish as a capital reserve account for cyclic repairs. Advances in technology will also impact the future costs
based upon changes in design and materials.
Additional Management Requirements
Table 4
Jim Dietrich and Riverside Basin Parks
Cyclic Repairs
Item Time frame
Pavilions 20 years
Re-Roofing 25-30 years
Re-paving ( if it is sealed 15 years
regularly, re-paving might not
be necessary)
Playgrounds 10 years
Furniture 15 Years
In addition to park maintenance, Jim Dietrich Park and Riverside Basin Park will require additional
management services. Because of the significant nature of the parks, the following management tactics
can be considered:
Merge Parks and Recreation – Return park maintenance to the Parks and Recreation Department. With the
doubling of the park system, park maintenance is a major function that needs to be housed in Parks and
Recreation for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
Park Superintendent – This position would tap a person skilled in natural resource management,
conservation, and park management. The person would be responsible for oversight of park development,
park management planning, resource conservation, concession management, facility scheduling, permits,
and site coordination. The Superintendent should have knowledge and experience in natural
resource management and park maintenance.
Development Director – With Township efforts focusing on economic development and revitalization, a
Development Director could be considered as a township function with a major focus on park and
recreation facility development as a tool to attract/retain businesses. The Development Director would be
responsible for assisting with township efforts in attracting partnerships, investment, grants, gift,
donations, bequests and other forms of private sector investment in the parks.
Special Event Manager and Promoter – Should the Dietrich Homestead be established as a special event
space for weddings, social gatherings, and so on, an event manager would be needed. The event manager
would run the rental operation as well as promote and advertise the facility.
Park Rangers – Park Rangers would be interpretive rangers providing a friendly presence in the parks by
serving as the ambassadors of Muhlenberg Township. They could provide interpretive programs and
environmental education and also carry out some of the park maintenance tasks such as litter pick up.
Site Watch – Site Watch is a program successfully developed by Upper Dublin Township in Montgomery
County. Site Watch staff serve as the Township’s presence in the parks from a more regulatory
perspective than park rangers would. Upper Dublin’s program is jointly funded by the School District and
Jim Dietrich Park and Riverside Basin Park Master Plans Chapter 6 - 23