South Suburban Parks and Rec team works overnight to plow snow from winter storm

LITTLETON, Colo. — As snow continues to blanket the Front Range, the team at South Suburban Parks and Recreation remains on the move, managing snow removal efforts across six cities. 

The department covers Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Littleton, Sheridan, Centennial and Lone Tree, but also maintains parts of Douglas, Jefferson and Arapahoe counties. With storms like this, its 70-person team operates around the clock.

“We cover 46 square miles,” said Seth Swanson, South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s Open Space manager. “So, yeah, trying to get full coverage all the time just takes plenty of staff.”

Swanson, a decade-long veteran of snow clearing, is rarely taken by surprise by winter weather. But this November storm— a hefty one, unlike the usual early season dustings — caught him off guard. 

“A lot of times, the first ones are just a couple of inches, but this year it kind of took everyone by surprise,” he said.

The South Suburban team clears snow from parks, trails and recreational facility lots, beginning their days well before sunrise to ensure paths are safe. 

“We start on the trails at midnight and at the facilities around 3:00 a.m.,” Swanson said. “We’re trying to be ASAP, as soon as possible. So, we don’t really go by a timetable. We’re just watching the forecast. As soon as it starts snowing, we’re out there.”

With the relentless snowfall, Swanson’s team finds themselves revisiting the same locations multiple times in a day. Far from feeling monotonous, the work is rewarding. 

“Maintenance guys are a different breed a little bit. You get to see the fruits of your labor right away, and I think we just enjoy being outside is the main thing. And they enjoy helping our community,” he said.

Swanson’s team recognizes the importance of their efforts, even if their work often goes unseen. 

“It would be a slippery situation, so that’s why we’re out here. We’re here to, you know, ensure the safety of all our residents and patrons who use our trails,” he said.

With up to eight more inches expected, the team is prepared to plow and re-plow as needed. 

As Swanson put it, “It’s time to step up. That time of year. It’s the season, and you know it’s coming. So, just kind of know what we have to do and just keep your head up and keep going.”