Celebrating Public Works Heroes During Parks and Recreation Month (July, 2025)
In honor of Parks and Recreation Month, we are shining a spotlight on the dedicated heroes of the Public Works Department who tirelessly support our Parks and Recreation initiatives. Their commitment ensures that our community parks and recreational facilities remain safe, enjoyable, and well-maintained for everyone.
The Public Works team is divided into four key departments: parks/grounds, buildings, sewer and roads crews. The parks/grounds department is led by foreman Joshua Kelly, alongside laborers Robert Evans and Bryan Westlake, who also serves as an arborist. The buildings team is headed by foreman David Bicer, with team members Ryan Silks and Brett McConaghy contributing as laborers.
The hardworking parks and buildings teams manage an impressive array of responsibilities:
- Mowing & Maintenance: They field mow 83 acres twice a year, while zero-turn mowers maintain 33 acres weekly. Additionally, contracted services handle mowing for 63 acres each week.
- Trail Management: Currently maintaining 5.5 miles of trails with plans for expansion in the coming years.
- Tree Care: Routine inspections and maintenance are conducted on all park and open space trees to ensure safety from storm damage or hazards.
- Building Maintenance: The buildings crew take care of all township facilities including 5 buildings and 3 satellite restrooms. They perform building and routine maintenance checks as well as needed repairs as they occur.
Foreman Josh Kelly, highlights the essential role that the entire Public Works team plays in maintaining not just parks but also the Upper Providence Township Community Center. Various operational aspects that keep UPT parks and facilities safe for the community such as tree care practices enhanced by certified arborist Bryan Westlake, playground inspections to ensure safety standards are met, and the challenges faced when balancing contracted services with in-house responsibilities.
"Public Works often goes unnoticed despite their vital contributions," said Joshua Kelly. "From playground inspections to trash collection and event preparations—our work is crucial for creating safe recreational spaces." Public Works collaborates with Parks and Recreation in vital ways to enhance community spaces.
During large community events like the Car Show, UP Music Fest, Fall Festival, and more, the entire Public Works Department comes together as a unified team to ensure everything runs smoothly. Staff from all divisions—buildings, parks, sewer, and road crews—step in to support these events, helping to create a safe and enjoyable experience for residents and visitors alike. The Parks and Recreation Department is deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of the Public Works staff who make our events and programs possible!
Residents are encouraged to visit and enjoy UPT parks, trails and facilities and can help the UPT public works department by being good stewards of the parks and trails. Please remember to keep our parks clean by not littering, picking up after your pets, and keeping the facilities clean.
As part of ongoing efforts to improve facilities like the Rec Center—including new gym paint and maintenance checks—Joshua emphasized their commitment to ensuring that all public spaces remain welcoming for community use.