Outsourcing Landscape Trend

The Sterling Heights City Council in Michigan recently awarded the mowing and maintenance of 26 city parks to a landscape contractor. According to the city, the decision to hire a contractor to mow and landscape 24 neighborhood parks and two major parks was made in light of recent staff reductions and retirements within the city's Department of Public Works.

This is an on-going trend sweeping the nation, as cities scramble for ways to close budget shortfalls. And these contracts can mean big money for landscape professionals. In the case of Serling Heights, the city council awarded a contract to Green Rainger Landscaping of Westland, for $93,237 for the period of June 7, 2011 through Oct. 31, 2012.

Landscape maintenance firms should follow their local city’s contracts to see if their city is looking into outsourcing public works.