It is responsible for the maintenance of the city's lands which include: parks, natural preserves, and streetscapes.

[2] The departments role was simple, to provide maintenance for the city's parks.

With the large population growth that started in the early 1970s, the amount of land that needed maintenance would also greatly increase.

Also, with the purchase of assets from Tenneco West in 1976, would create the largest park in the city, the Kern River Parkway.

Also, streetscape projects downtown would result in more landscaping that needed to be maintained.