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Community Corner

My Life as a Public Parks Keeper

Want to know what it would be like working in a different field? Find out from a Northeast Cobb neighbor working in the field.

Each week, Northeast Cobb Patch will introduce you to neighbors who work in different careers. You'll learn the pros and cons of their career, and if you would like to share your own experiences in the same work environment, you can post a comment in the Comment Box below.

Scotty Paschal, a native resident, has been working for the Cobb County Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department for six years. He has been the park keeper for Northeast Cobb's for just over a year.

A typical day for Paschal begins by arriving at the park by 6:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. He performs ground work and maintenance services until his day ends at 3:30 p.m.

With three baseball fields, batting cages, two practice fields, four tennis courts, a playground, picnic pavilion and two dog parks, Paschal’s days are anything but dull.

“If you ever need to find me, just listen for the loud noise of a leaf blower and look for a big cloud of dust. I’ll be right in the middle of it,” Paschal said on a laugh.

Paschal loves his job. He has been moved to different parks nine times during his six year employment with the Cobb County PRCA.

“I always work hard keeping the parks clean and enjoyable. I have also helped make improvements to just about every park I’ve worked at,” he said.

The pros of Paschal’s job include his love of the outdoors and meeting new people daily. He enjoys keeping the park pristine and making improvements to the grounds for the park goers.

“I would hate to be stuck behind a desk all day and only getting outside for just an hour at lunchtime,” said Paschal. “Meeting all the friendly people that come to the dog park is also a big perk of working here.”

The cons of being a park keeper: extreme heat during the summer, and extreme cold during the winter. Also, being the only employee at the park can get a little lonely at times.

A side effect of the current economy has brought a raise freeze to employees working at our public parks. Paschal has not had a raise in four years.

According to one of Paschal’s supervisors, Cobb County now has twice the amount of park space with only one-half the work force they used to have.

Paschal is quick to add, “I am very honored to be working for the Cobb County park system. I truly love my job and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.”

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