Many folks think of the Horned Toad Derby as a four day event happening over Memorial Day Weekend, but for CHRPD maintenance crews, the derby means months of preparation to make Olsen Park ready. Much like the Chamber of Commerce, who has been working on details for this year’s derby since last year’s derby ended; at CHRPD, we must also must plan our maintenance practices so that the Olsen Park is in best shape we can get it prior to this annual community event.
Now the community has an expectation that the grass is green, the trees are trimmed, and that the park is safe for the thousands of people descending upon Olsen Park. Here is a look at what your CHRPD maintenance crews must do so that the Horned Toad Derby can happen.
It is always amazing the impact that heavy foot traffic, from thousands of people, has little blades of grass. The event naturally focuses all foot traffic into several walkways down the middle of the park, which severely stresses the turf in those areas.
In fact, since the event set-up starts on the Tuesday prior, and then the clean-up doesn’t occur until the Tuesday after, all watering in Olsen Park must stop for eight days, right when the turf experiences its highest stress of the year. But actually, CHRPD must stop watering the park a week before that, so that the turf is strong enough to accommodate all of those big amusements trucks, making it two straight weeks that the park goes without water. Then, if the temperatures are hot, the turf experiences even more stress. The combination of heavy foot traffic, high temperatures, and no water is a recipe for disaster when trying to keep grass green and alive. In years past, CHRPD would apply extra water during the weeks at the end of April, and the beginning of May, in order to establish strong turf, with healthy root systems, way in advance of the Derby. This year, however, we are faced with the current drought watering restrictions, which means all of that pre-watering cannot take place. CHRPD staff is doing what it can to try and prevent a dry and dusty derby.
Every year, prior to the Derby event, we conduct an assessment of the tree canopy in Olsen Park, with an eye towards any high limbs that might potentially fall. At a cost of many thousands of dollars, all of these trees are properly thinned and trimmed to eliminate any hazards.
In addition to trees and turf maintenance, CHRPD crews also ensure that park grounds are in good shape. We fix and clean the Shade Structures; and we also inspect the large electrical boxes placed throughout the park needed for the Amusement Rides and Vendors Booths, upgrading plugs and receptacles, as needed.
We give kudos to the Coalinga Chamber of Commerce for their effort in putting the Derby together. We also celebrate the efforts of the CHRPD maintenance crew in getting the park ready for this awesome event. So come out this weekend, and enjoy both the derby and the park.
