Hot Springs National Park was authorized by Act of Congress on April 20, 1832, as Hot Springs Reservation, and in fact, it is the oldest protected area within the National Park System. The first National Park Service director was referred to Hot Springs National Park as "America's first national park." The thermal springs flowing down the side of Hot Springs Mountain are the primary resource of the park, but unlike thermal features, such as geysers of Yellowstone, the hot springs have not been preserved in their unaltered state, but are protected and managed to conserve the production of uncontaminated thermal water for public use.
Hot Springs National Park is uniquely situated in that it is both surrounded by, and surrounds, different parts of the city of Hot Springs (pop. 35,000) and Garland County (pop. 140,000). The park is not only well known for its thermal springs and related bathing activities, but also for its mountain lands and over 26 miles of mountain trails. Hot Springs National Park is also recognized as a significant historical resource and representative of an important stage in the development of the American conservation movement. Bathhouse Row, a national historic landmark district, showcases one of the few collections of historic bathhouses remaining in the United States. The park contains over 5500 acres. The park website is http://www.nps.gov/hosp
Hot Springs National Park receives approximately 3.2 million visitors who take advantage of the baths, massages and hiking trails, while others collect drinking water at park jug fountains, stroll along Bathhouse Row taking in the history and culture of the "American Spa", or drive to scenic overlooks on the park's mountain roads.
Little Rock, a major metropolitan area, is approximately 50 miles to the northeast. Memphis, TN is 3 hours from the park and Dallas, TX is approximately 5 hours away.
The county hosts six K-12 school districts with 2 being in the city of Hot Springs. Housing is readily available and affordable. The city is home to 2 excellent hospitals, with a contingency of physicians and specialists. Hot Springs has excellent dining and shopping. City of Hot Springs website: http://www.hotsprings.org
The duties of this position will include, but are not limited to:
- Provide proper care and maintenance of maintained landscapes that include, but not limited to, park lawns, flowers, shrubs, and trees.
- Transplanting trees
- Determining quantities of plants, seeds, and other materials needed for proper preparation and growth
- Selects and sprays areas with approved herbicides, fungicides and insecticides to control plant diseases
- Maintains landscapes such as mows, weed-eats, and edges lawns; trims shrubs, trees and hedges;
- Maintains areas with appropriate fertilization methods to ensure healthy growth.
- Knowledge of plant and gardening procedures and standard methods to use, and technical knowledge of chemicals and amounts for proper use.
- Knowledge of the use of farm-type equipment with attachments as well as hand and power equipment used to maintain landscapes.
Physical Demands: The work requires frequent walking, standing, pushing of carts and wheelbarrows, bending, and stooping. The incumbent occasionally climbs ladders to prune or trim vegetation and lifts heavy objects such as bags of fertilizer, grass seed, etc.
Working Conditions: The work is done outside or in greenhouse. In working outside, the gardener is subject to discomfort from long periods in the sun, and sometimes in chilly or rainy weather. On a regular basis the conditions will involve working in air contaminated with chemical dust and sprays being applied to trees and shrubs. The incumbent will be required to wear protective clothing during pesticide/herbicide application; as well as normal safety items such as gloves, boots, glasses, etc. Because of the duties performed there is the chance of minor injuries such as bruises, cuts, and scrapes and occasional possibility of broken bones from falls.
Starting at $21.41 Per Hour (WG 6)
