• GENERAL SCOPE OF LAWN MAINTENANCE WORK o Lawn Maintenance, unless otherwise specified below includes all lawn areas within park boundaries. o Lawn Maintenance Timing: Weekly from date of award (unless otherwise noted in site specific scope of work). o Work shall begin within 1 week of award date. o Spring Clean Up shall be completed within 10 days from start of season but no later than April 30. o Landscape Maintenance Contractor will be responsible for removal of all debris from the site. o It is the contractor’s responsibility to learn and know the local town ordinances. Local ordinances apply in the County Park. Contractor is responsible for learning, knowing and following local noise and equipment ordinances regarding noise and equipment use. Essex County will NOT be responsible for fines incurred by contractor due to ordinance violations. o When using equipment, all care must be taken to protect the safety and enjoyment of park users. It shall be the vendor’s responsibility to make sure no debris are launched toward vehicles, pedestrians or pets either in the park, parking lots or entering or leaving the park. Any complaints about this will be forwarded to the contractor for remedy. o No chemicals can be used around live materials or planted items such as trees, shrubs, flowers etc. Chemicals shall not be used around playground or Water play area facilities within the park. o Mowing Specifications ▪ All mowing activities shall be performed only between the hours of 6:00 AM and 3:30 PM. ▪ No mowing shall occur in the parks on Friday afternoons. ▪ All debris interfering with cutting operations (such as wire, bottles, rocks, cans, sticks, paper and litter) must be picked up from the area prior to beginning of mowing operations for the initial mow and all subsequent mowing. Accumulated trash and debris will be disposed of properly. ▪ All litter is to be picked up in the area prior to mowing. If litter is run over with a mower, the contractor shall be responsible for cleaning up the litter and removing it from the site. ▪ Mowers shall be of a type, which causes clippings to be mulched and distributed evenly over the cut area, unless otherwise noted in park specific scope. Any accumulation of grass clippings and other cut vegetation shall be removed from the property. ▪ Remove any excess clumps of grass or clippings. ▪ Around all trees, poles, benches, signage, fencing of all ballfield and playground areas, or any areas that grow excessive grass that cannot be cut with a mower, the area will need to be line-trimmed or grasses removed around these obstacles. ▪ After trimming and mowing, any grass clippings or other debris left on sidewalks, synthetic field areas, playgrounds and paved areas from mowing operations shall be blown off the sidewalks and other paved areas. ▪ During leaf drop season, leaves are to be picked up and removed, before mowing and disposed of at vendors own cost. Mulching shall only be done after written consent from a county representative. ▪ The cutting edges of all mowing equipment used in performance of this work shall be kept in sharp condition. Rough cutting of grass will not be accepted. ▪ All vegetative debris must be disposed of at contractors own expense. Care must be taken when mowing and trimming around trees and shrubs so the bark is not damaged. ▪ Grass areas shall be mowed to a height of not less than 2” inches and not more than 3” inches above the soil surface. Grass adjacent to buildings, utilities, trees or fences, that can’t be cut by larger mowers, shall be cut by smaller mowers. This does not constitute trimming. ▪ Mowing shall be done at a moderate speed as not to endanger park visitors. ▪ Each time the grass of an area is mowed; all grass shall be trimmed even with the edges of all curbs, sidewalks and driveways. ▪ Grass, brush, weeds and other vegetation growing beside walls, guy wires, poles, shrubs, trees, foundations, garbage cans and bench pads, fire hydrants, sign posts or any object within the designated area shall be cut at a height consistent with the adjoining turf areas. ▪ All walkways and pavement will be free of clippings and debris prior to the contractor leaving the site.
