by Emily Ochsenschlager

I went to visit my brother, who works as a maintenance worker at a park near where we grew up. Surprisingly there's a lot of work that goes into the picnic table you sit on, the bathrooms you use when you've gotta go, and those displays you see in the visitors center. I found out no detail goes unnoticed and it's all in the name of making your park experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

  • Tim Ochsenschlager takes a break from his job as a maintenance worker at Riverbend Park along the Patomac River in Great Falls, Virginia.
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    Tim Ochsenschlager takes a break from his job as a maintenance worker at Riverbend Park along the Patomac River in Great Falls, Virginia.
  • He contemplates how best to install a soap dish he assembled earlier in the day.
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    He contemplates how best to install a soap dish he assembled earlier in the day.
  • Later in the morning, he supervised volunteers who were assembling new benches for a picnic area in the park.
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    Later in the morning, he supervised volunteers who were assembling new benches for a picnic area in the park.
  • It's pretty important to make sure that all of the bolts are secure on the picnic benches. Ochsenschlager advises the volunteers to double check the bolts before they add the next part to the picnic benches.
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    It's pretty important to make sure that all of the bolts are secure on the picnic benches. Ochsenschlager advises the volunteers to double check the bolts before they add the next part to the picnic benches.
  • As one of the volunteers lines up a new set of boards for the next picnic bench, Ochsenschlager gathers a couple of bench legs.
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    As one of the volunteers lines up a new set of boards for the next picnic bench, Ochsenschlager gathers a couple of bench legs.
  • Taking a break from building picnic benches, Ochsenschlager takes a moment to enjoy an atypical maintenance worker lunch of sushi.
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    Taking a break from building picnic benches, Ochsenschlager takes a moment to enjoy an atypical maintenance worker lunch of sushi.
  • After lunch it's back to work, this time he was working on building shelving for a newly redesigned exhibit at the park's visitor's center.
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    After lunch it's back to work, this time he was working on building shelving for a newly redesigned exhibit at the park's visitor's center.
  • Measurements are made to turn a corner in the display shelving.
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    Measurements are made to turn a corner in the display shelving.
  • After he's double checked his measurements, Ochsenschlager heads to the park's shop to make the proper cuts.
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    After he's double checked his measurements, Ochsenschlager heads to the park's shop to make the proper cuts.
  • Frank Lind goes over an adjustment that will need to be made before the shelf can be mounted.
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    Frank Lind goes over an adjustment that will need to be made before the shelf can be mounted.
  • At the end of a long day, Tim Ochsenschlager says he feels tired, but satisfied.
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    At the end of a long day, Tim Ochsenschlager says he feels tired, but satisfied.

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