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Parks and recreation manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Doug Kennedy CPRP

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical parks and recreation manager skills. We ranked the top skills for parks and recreation managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.4% of parks and recreation manager resumes contained front desk as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a parks and recreation manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 parks and recreation manager skills for your resume and career

1. Front Desk

Here's how parks and recreation managers use front desk:

Front Desk, Summer Camp, Safe Summer, Basketball Camp
Front Desk, Trash, Host Parties

2. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how parks and recreation managers use cpr:

Care for injuries, sudden illnesses, and other medical emergencies: give first aid, CPR, oxygen, etc.
Certified lifeguard instructor which includes CPR for the professional rescuer, blood borne pathogens, oxygen administration and AED certifications.

3. Mowing

Here's how parks and recreation managers use mowing:

Cleaned bathrooms* Maintained parks and cemetery* Landscaping* Mowing* Light construction
Maintain city parks and Facilities mowing edging painting Etc

4. Lifeguard

Lifeguards are responsible for watching out for swimmers and render help whenever anyone faces any difficulty. They keep a check on water conditions, swimming activities at aquatics facilities and enforce safety rules. They must pay close attention to swimmers' movements and behaviors and guide them about pool regulations and water safety policies.

Here's how parks and recreation managers use lifeguard:

Hired and trained lifeguard staff and conducted staff inservices.
Hire and schedule qualified candidates for lifeguard and activity coordinator positions.

5. Recreational Facilities

Recreational facilities aim to provide comfort and relief by providing different recreational activities and services. Some of these recreational facilities may include swimming pools, spas, playgrounds, gyms, and entertainment centers

Here's how parks and recreation managers use recreational facilities:

Supervised the maintenance and repair of parks, playground and recreational facilities, including pool sites.
Oversee planning and scheduling of recreational facilities.

6. General Maintenance

General maintenance is the regular check-up and repairs of machinery, buildings, and other mechanical equipment. General maintenance is performed by repair workers who are skilled to handle the day-to-day defects produced in the machinery. General maintenance aims to make sure the items remain in the best operational conditions. Usually, a set of planned activities are performed regularly by an expert to monitor the maintenance.

Here's how parks and recreation managers use general maintenance:

General maintenance of Lima Parks, equipment and around the premises.
Assisted in general maintenance and renovation of the Community Center, Gym facilities, Athletic Fields /Park Areas and Pool Facilities.

7. Youth Program

Here's how parks and recreation managers use youth program:

Maintain baseball/softball fields and parks, maintain city flower beds, helped administrated youth programs.
Maintained the fields, coached baseball and developed the youth programs.

8. Grounds Maintenance

Ground maintenance refers to maintaining and ensuring that a particular outdoor area or location is accessible, clean, and presentable to the public.

Here's how parks and recreation managers use grounds maintenance:

Perform and manage all housekeeping, set ups for church functions, grounds maintenance and all building and mechanical repairs.
Landscape and plant management, grounds maintenance and improvement.

9. Recreation Centers

Here's how parks and recreation managers use recreation centers:

Ground and pool maintenance of all city parks and recreation centers in Mountain Home, AR.
Maintain the beautification for the city of Plant City landscaping parks and recreation centers.

10. Routine Maintenance

Here's how parks and recreation managers use routine maintenance:

Perform routine maintenance on park structures and facilities.
Assist in routine maintenance of such equipment.

11. Community Events

Community events are the events scheduled within the community.

Here's how parks and recreation managers use community events:

Collaborated with Tourism to promote economic growth with development and implementation of major events and community events.
Assisted in various community events facilitating crafts, games, educational opportunities for community children.

12. Recreation Programs

Recreational programs aim at providing recreation and related activities for individuals with disabilities to aid in their mobility, independence, employment, socialization, and community integration. These programs are designed to promote the development of social skills that are necessary to integrate the disabled people into the community. Vocational skills Music, Dancing, Handicrafts, Art, and Homemaking, development, Leisure education, Physical education and sports are few activities that these programs may include.

Here's how parks and recreation managers use recreation programs:

Developed and distributed all park and recreation program promotion materials including newsletters and program brochures.
Conferred with supervisors and community individuals to plan and implement park and recreation programs.

13. Mowers

Here's how parks and recreation managers use mowers:

Weed whacker, drive mowers, fix activity accessories at parks(basketball hoops, tennis nets, etc).
Operated bobcat, rotary mowers, reel mowers, weed eaters, and other assorted heavy machinery and work vehicles.

14. Field Maintenance

Here's how parks and recreation managers use field maintenance:

Worked as the head baseball field maintenance worker during most baseball tournaments.
Conducted daily field maintenance on softball fields.

15. Manual Labor

Any kind of work that is carried out by workers manually instead of using machines is termed manual labor.

Here's how parks and recreation managers use manual labor:

Perform manual labor including lifting heavy weights, stooping, bending and twisting.

What skills help Parks And Recreation Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What parks and recreation manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Doug Kennedy CPRP

Professor, Virginia Wesleyan University

Even before Covid I could see a switch in the workplace to more of a focus on work-life balance. Covid amplified that and we re-discovered the outdoors and recreation participation, and have seen a huge growth in the variety of sports for both participants and spectators. In short, people are seeing the value of recreation in their leisure time, and the importance of both, like never before.

Do you want to know more?

List of parks and recreation manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a parks and recreation manager resume and required skills for a parks and recreation manager to have include:

Front Desk
CPR
Mowing
Lifeguard
Recreational Facilities
General Maintenance
Youth Program
Grounds Maintenance
Recreation Centers
Routine Maintenance
Community Events

Recreation Programs
Mowers
Field Maintenance
Manual Labor
Athletic Fields
Blowers
Construction Projects
Advisory Boards
Swimming Pools
City Events
Public Officials

Safety Hazards
RAN
Safety Rules
Building Maintenance
Irrigation Systems
Flower Beds
Borough
Chain Saws
Soccer Fields
Golf Courses

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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