“This honor shows we are working hard to be good to the environment,” he said.
“It’s awesome because it shows our hard work and that we’re cognizant of how everything we do impacts the environment,” said Olson, who oversees an 11-member team dedicated to sustainability.
Their efforts include recycling, water and energy conservation, retention ponds for erosion control and minimizing pesticide use to protect waterways. “We don’t want overkill,” Olson said, of efforts to eradicate invasive weeds and pests.
Notably, ballfield lights are now computerized to activate only when needed, further reducing energy waste. And now, signs across Chino Valley parks proudly display the SFMA certification.
Olson’s journey from the diamond to environmental stewardship is unique. A former player with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels organizations, he spent a decade in Triple-A baseball while maintaining fields – a skill that launched his career in parks management. Today, he still calls the field home, coaching the Chino Valley High School baseball team.
“This honor shows we are working hard to be good to the environment,” he said.
The other recipient of the SFMA award is Rio Vista Community Park in Peoria, where Olson used to work. QCBN
By Stan Bindell, QCBN
Photo by Stan Bindell: Surrounded by members of the Chino Valley Town Council, Jason Olson holds the prestigious Sports Fields Management Association (SFMA) certification for outstanding environmental practice. Pictured here are Mayor Jack Miller and Councilmembers Bob Schacherer, Annie Perkins, John McCafferty, Olson, Sherri Phillips and Tom Armstrong.
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