Logan Parks and Recreation department facing labor shortages

The Logan Parks and Recreation department has been facing increasing labor shortages over the past three years.  

Divisions within the department, such as the golf course, the cemetery and the Logan Aquatic Center, have been making efforts to increase employment. 

Dan Blakely, the recreation superintendent, said the department has been creating content for social media to advertise employment options within the department.  

They are also trying to increase advertising at Utah State University and recruit more students by attending the job fairs as they have done in the past. 

Randy Oldham, the golf course superintendent, said the department has advertised with USU on job posting platforms for close to 20 years. The department is currently on USU’s job posting platform, AggieHandshake, but Oldham said it has not been successful.  

In the parks and recreation advisory board meeting in September, members of the Logan City Council discussed potential solutions to the labor shortage.  

Solutions included promotional videos, free golf for employees, incentive pay or bonuses, limiting hours of operation, increasing incentive for college students and increasing wages.  

“It’s the type of job you can take pride in. You can stand back after you’ve done it and say, ‘I did that.’” Blakely said.  

The department has tried to simplify the application process by adding QR codes to fliers and advertisements found on-campus, in the cemetery and at other department facilities.  

“We are trying to reach the demographic that we want to work for us through methods they use,” Blakely said. 

Justin Allen, the Logan Cemetery sexton, said the golf course and parks division have experienced the worst labor shortages.  

“The parks division was really hit,” Allen said. “They normally bring in between 18 and 20 part-time staff during the summer. This last year I think they had seven or eight.”  

Seasonal positions have recently been posted for the department. Sports official positions, such as referees, are hired year-round.  

“Bottom line, we want to express that we want students to come work for us,” Blakely said. “We want interns, we want externs, we want people who want to work and want to have fun.”  

Job postings and Logan Parks and Recreation information can be found at their website,  loganutah.org/government/departments/parks_and_recreation.

-Maya.Mackinnon@usu.edu

Featured photo by: Katie Henderson