The City of Mobile, nationally recognized for its sweeping coastline and rich inland landscapes, is supported by a small but devoted group of Mobilians who have built their careers around caring for it: the Parks Maintenance Department, specifically the Landscaping and Horticultural Division.
As a unit, this 5-man team maintains over 1,919.22 acres of parks and green spaces, divided only by the directions East or West. Monday through Friday, always before sunrise and on some days after sunset. One September day last fall, I had the privilege of witnessing exactly what that dedication looks like firsthand.
With a 6 AM start time for staff, the employee parking lot outside of the Hurtel Street department building began rumbling with the commotion of engines, mufflers, car doors, and security alarms notifying their owners that their vehicles are secured. A steady flow of uniformed men and women, old and young, begin to file into the glass double-doors, disappearing momentarily down a hallway not visible from the parking lot. My watch reads 5:50 AM. The employee parking lot has gone silent, but a roar of engines echoes from the other side of the building as various Parks Maintenance members begin warming up their COM vehicles for the day: Cargo Vans, F450 Dump Beds, landscaping dump trucks, and pickup trucks. Each requiring a safety inspection and assessment before pulling out of the lot. It’s during this busy scene that I notice a more serene sight, a makeshift green space along a city fence.
Stands are set up along it, hosting an assortment of fall-friendly flowers, plants, and herbs. On this day in particular, they are receiving some much-needed nourishment. Public Service Worker I, Leroy Millsap, is gently measuring the amount of water being disbursed to each seedling, notating exactly which ones aren’t quite ready for the world beyond their quaint little corner of the parking lot. “I don’t want to rush these”, he tells me, with the concern of a father not ready for his “babies” to grow up. “They’ll need some more time,” he says as he politely adjusts one to maximize its exposure to the now rising sun.
I look up to see that the once raucous parking lot has cleared. All that remains are the members of the Horticulture Team, (or “Hort” Crew, as they are affectionately known by the rest of the department), patiently waiting and preparing for the plants to say when they’re ready.
Having previously loaded their vehicles, I noted the number of everyday items I’ve witnessed used in my family’s garden: shovels, compost forks, onion hoes, and an auger. Each of which felt less commercial grade than I expected.
Why wouldn’t they use something bigger or larger in scale, I thought? “The machines do get the job done quicker, but not as thoroughly,” stated the team lead and 25-year Parks veteran, Michael Turner. “We’d still need to go back over everything to ensure the plants are set up to survive the coming months,” he said, “plus the guys enjoy being more hands-on anyway”.
As we pulled up to our “park of the week” Arlington Park, I witnessed just that. Three-year veteran Coree Manuel and rookie Kenderick Perkins jumped down from their vehicles, clad in reflective and safety gear, and began digging into the meticulously maintained green space with their bare hands. “Everybody put on your gloves,” Mr. Turner reminded them from a distance.
With a laugh, they acquiesced, returning to their original tasks. “I [just] enjoy being outdoors”, Mr. Manuel, a Mobile-native and graduate of Murphy High School, says with a smirk. “I’ve always considered myself the outdoorsy type, and I enjoy working in nature; it’s a very healthy environment to spend your days in.”
As our conversations continued, I began to inquire about their individual paths to Parks. “A friend of mine was working for Parks already and encouraged me to attend one of the job fairs,” stated William Noyd, who joined the division roughly a year ago. “I know [that] when I’m here and show up ready to work, they will too. Everything just falls into place here.” As the men set into their work, the time for questions has clearly passed. There was a science to what was about to happen next, and their measurements needed to be exact. Focus was required and willingly given.
Throughout the course of the morning, the five-man crew, complete with 23-year Parks veteran, Markcus Roberts, cleared, weeded, composted, aerated, and tilled the garden beds. At the same time, they greet citizens, avoid oncoming traffic, and share gardening tips with passersby. They don’t mind it much, though. “We’re so focused on beautifying and mulching the parks that we forget just how much others might enjoy what we do too”, Mr. Roberts tells me. While it might seem like basic landscaping tasks, hauling dirt, cutting grass, raking leaves, and tending to garden beds, what I witnessed was much more than that.
The team clearly takes great pride in its work. Kenderick Perkins, for example, shared how he’s passionate about gardening outside of work. “We want to keep Mobile beautiful. Not just as a community but as a place for tourists to enjoy as well,” says Mr. Perkins.
Once finished for the day, the team looks over the first phase of their completed work. Their bodies relaxed, no longer actively engaged in the “labor of love” that had them completely and unequivocally captivated for over 8 hours. Reminiscent of the once-viral “Home Depot Dad” social media trend, Mr. Turner, with both hands on his belt, proudly commends his team for its artistry.
“Under your guidance and leadership,” one of the men responds. They knowingly exchange nods, acknowledging the validity of the statement, jargon I am told is a measure of high praise within their group. Beaming with pride, Mr. Turner quietly snaps pictures of the green space, intending to add their latest accomplishment to his wall of “greatest hits”.