Reports to: Manager - Turf Care
Department: Turf Care
Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
About the Central Park Conservancy:
Central Park is one of the world's most famous and beloved public spaces. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1858, the 843-acre Park was the country's first purpose-built public park and is a National Historic Landmark and a New York Scenic Landmark. The Central Park Conservancy, a private, not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1980 to rescue the Park, which had fallen into serious disrepair. Since then, the Conservancy has overseen the investment of over $1.6 billion in the restoration of the Park, which now hosts over 40 million visitors a year.
The Conservancy is one of the largest and most successful public private partnerships in New York City and is considered a major civic institution given its impact on the health and vibrancy of both the Park and the City. The Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and celebrate Central Park as a sanctuary from urban life. The City of New York has formally entrusted the care of the Park to the Conservancy which is responsible for every aspect of its care, including landscape maintenance, capital improvements, and the visitor experience. The Conservancy employs roughly 400 people and has an annual operating budget of $120 million.
Job Summary
The Ballfield Groundskeeper in the Turf Care Management Department is responsible for the care and maintenance of multiple athletic and recreational turf facilities throughout the park. Working under the supervision of the Turf Care leadership team, this position supports a centralized ballfield operation that includes traditional baseball and softball fields, Lawn Sports Courts, and associated high-use turf areas.
Primary responsibilities include maintaining safe, playable, and visually consistent turf and soil-based surfaces through specialized field maintenance practices. While some assignments focus on traditional ballfield preparation, others emphasize fine turf management associated with Lawn Sports Courts, including precision mowing, rolling, topdressing, and ornamental planting support. The Ballfield Groundskeeper may also assist with general turf care, trash removal, and string trimming in adjacent high-profile lawns as needed.
Essential Duties
Athletic Field & Lawn Sports Maintenance
• Perform specialized maintenance of athletic and recreational turf areas, which may include one or more of the following depending on assignment:
Ballfields
• Perform daily infield maintenance including dragging, rolling, and leveling playing surfaces
• Edge, paint, and prepare pitching mounds and home plates
• Apply infield mix, topdressing, and conditioners to maintain safe and playable surfaces
• Set up and break down field configurations between baseball/softball and soccer seasons
• Assist with seasonal renovations including laser grading and sod installation
• Monitor field conditions during inclement weather and communicate playability concerns
Lawn Sports Courts
• Perform walk-behind mowing of fine turf playing surfaces
• Roll and topdress turf to maintain smoothness and playability
• Assist with overseeding, fertility applications, and surface grooming
• Support planting and maintenance of ornamental beds and landscape features adjacent to Lawn Sports Courts
High-Use Lawn Support
• Assist with general care of large lawn areas, including trash removal, string trimming, and perimeter fence detailing
• Support turf care efforts during peak use periods and special events
Technical Operation:
• Assist in mowing and trimming turf areas parkwide.
• Perform aeration, overseeding, and fertilization in accordance to Turf Care Management Plan.
• Operate utility vehicles, mowers, tractors, drags, and field-specific grooming equipment.
• Support irrigation maintenance, troubleshooting, and repairs as needed.
• Assist in chemical applications, including calibration, handling, and application of fertilizers and other treatments per regulations.
• Perform material additions, grading and leveling of soft surface areas and operation of associated equipment
• Safely operate heavy machinery such as front-end loaders, skid steer and trucks when required.
• Advanced knowledge of preventative maintenance on all machinery used in Turf Care parkwide operations
• Perform snow removal and ice mitigation on paths, entrances, playgrounds, perimeter and other hard surfaces with machines and physical labor to provide appropriate levels of access as per established organizational standards
• Maintains all plant beds in assigned section, including weeding, mulching, raking and pruning, according to an established schedule to organizational standards
• Support waste management operation by picking up and performing proper disposal of trash in landscapes, paths, perimeter and gardens; empties trash cans as necessary; sweeps around benches, stairs and entryways
Collaboration & Communication:
• Cooperate with other staff within Landscape Management and across departments to complete assigned tasks.
• Work alongside volunteers and interns, assisting with training as needed.
• Assist in the preparation of special events as needed
• Displays the necessary initiative and dependability to work alone or in groups
• Interact with Park patrons and colleagues in a courteous and professional manner
Related Work:
• Operate various types of equipment including utility vehicles, loaders, lifts, trucks and tractors (including implements) as directed
• Maintain tools and equipment in good working order and report items that require repair
• Participate in all training sessions and seminars
• Reports on malfunctioning infrastructure, furnishings, safety hazards, quality of life issues
• Perform related work as assigned
Minimum Requirements:
1. A four-year high school diploma or equivalent.
2. Two years of professional work experience in ballfield maintenance, turf care, or landscaping.
3. Valid driver’s license that must be maintained for the duration of employment.
4. Ability to work at least one weekend day as part of a five-day, forty hour per week schedule
Additional Requirements for Assignment to Ballfield Groundskeeper II:
1. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to five years of professional experience in ballfield or turf maintenance.
2. Demonstrated competency in essential job functions.
3. CPC Internal Candidates – A satisfactory performance evaluation during each year of employment.
Abilities Required
• Ability to work overtime, weekends and holidays as needed
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and perform heavy physical labor on a daily basis in all weather conditions
Salary ranges:
Turf Care Groundskeeper I - Ballfield: $48,000 – $59.800 (based on level of experience)
Turf Care Groundskeeper II - Ballfield: $55,000 - $69,000 (based on level of experience)
Note: This is an on-site position.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Central Park Conservancy’s work is guided by the belief that Central Park, and all public parks, must be managed and actively protected as an inclusive and democratic space for all.
Working closely with our New York City partners, we will always strive towards creating and sustaining a sense of belonging for all visitors and advocating for equitable and accessible public use of the Park.
In service of this belief, we are committed to fostering a workforce and organizational culture that is as diverse as Central Park itself and the dynamic city it serves.
Safety Requirements
Establishment and maintenance of a safe work environment is the shared responsibility of this organization and employees at every level. The Conservancy will make every effort to assure a safe environment and be in compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations. Employees are expected to obey safety rules and to exercise caution in all their work activities. Accordingly, employees should be aware of any hazards, which could cause an injury or accident (e.g., spills, obstacles in walkways, etc.). If an employee discovers a potential dangerous condition, he/she should alert other employees and notify his/her supervisor immediately.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
