Parks and Recreation

Our Parks Service team brings beauty to Racine’s public spaces through flowers, trees, green design, and community collaboration. In partnership with WeedOut Racine and local volunteers, we maintain parks, gardens, medians, and trails, keeping the city vibrant and environmentally healthy. It truly takes the whole community to keep Racine blooming!

Seasonal Flower Planting

• Annual flowers are ordered in winter and planted by Memorial Day in high-visibility areas like Monument Square, medians, showplaces, and public gardens.
• Seasonal Employees & Volunteers assist with planting and ongoing maintenance.

Tree Planting & Care

• New trees are planted each spring; brush and weed trees are removed throughout the year.
• Citywide street tree surveys help track tree health and planting needs.
• See  Forestry Division for more information

Turf, Weed & Garden Management

• Parks Service crews and volunteers apply fertilizers, seed, and selective herbicides to maintain healthy landscapes in parks, athletic fields, and community gardens.
• Seasonal Employees & Volunteers help with weeding, mulching, and maintaining garden beds throughout the city.

Beautification Projects

• Decorative landscaping and community garden projects support local events and improve park aesthetics.
• Volunteer engagement ensures that gardens, medians, and park plantings thrive.

Spring

• Remove snow fencing and plow markers from park grounds
• Repair sod and turf damaged by snow and salt
• Begin seasonal mowing of hillsides, fields, and paths
• Clear trails, brush, and fence lines after winter storms
• Plant trees and prepare flower beds

Summer

• Daily litter pickup in parks, beaches, and medians
• Extra litter pickup on weekends and during special events
• Regular mowing of turf, fields, and boulevards
• Playground, picnic, and trail safety checks
• Brush and weed tree removal along fence lines and paths
• Seasonal Employees & Volunteers assist with community garden care and flower bed maintenance

Fall

• Mulch and remove leaves from parks, gardens, and boulevards
• Seed and repair turf areas
• Continue mowing until the end of the growing season
• Clear brush and prepare trails for winter
• Seasonal Employees & Volunteers help with fall clean-up in gardens and medians

Winter

• Limited litter pickup in open areas
• Snow fence installation where needed
• Tree and brush trimming in accessible areas
• Winter equipment maintenance and prep for spring
• Community garden plots are winterized for the season