Pocatello Parks & Rec adds remote-controlled mower to improve crew safety

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - The Pocatello Parks & Recreation Department added a remote-controlled lawn mower to its equipment fleet to help crews safely maintain steep slopes and hard-to-reach terrain across the city.

The equipment allows department employees to operate the machinery remotely rather than riding or walking on steep or uneven ground. City officials said the mower will be used to maintain levees, steep trails, stormwater basins and areas at the Nordic Center where traditional equipment is difficult to operate.

The department relies on part-time seasonal employees, many of whom are students returning to school at the end of the summer season. The addition of the remote-controlled mower will help full-time crews maintain green spaces efficiently with fewer seasonal staff members.

Parks & Recreation Director Anne Butler noted that the equipment offers practical safety and efficiency advantages for city crews. “The remote-controlled mower gives our crews another way to safely and efficiently maintain areas that can be difficult to reach with traditional equipment,” Butler said. “It's another much needed opportunity to take advantage of new technology and will help our team throughout the year.”

City officials said the mower supports the Environmentally Resilient vision outlined in Pocatello's Comprehensive Plan 2040, which emphasizes protecting local natural resources while maximizing municipal resources.