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Take preventative steps to limit your liability in a park setting and stay out of the courtroom.
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Course Details
Course Name: Park Liability and Park Plants
Course Code: AL0904WA27
Date: March 4, 2027
Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm EST (Log-in Time: 8:30 am)
Location: Online
Format: Live, instructor-led
Registration Fee: $225 per person
Early Bird Discount Fee: $210 per person (expires February 25, 2027)
Registration Closes: March 2, 2027
Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
Course Overview
This class is part of the Public Grounds Management Certificate Program.
During this class, sports field expert Scott Bills will discuss your responsibilities, your liability, and how to stay out of the courtroom – also, the best way to be prepared should you end up in litigation. Later horticulturist Steve Kristoph will discuss some of the best plants that can be used in a park setting as well as some of the ones to avoid.
Who Should Attend?
This class is intended for professionals who work in parks and related settings.
Meet Your Instructors
Scott Bills, Sports Field Solutions, LLC
Scott Bills is a nationally recognized Certified Sports Field Manager and president of New Jersey-based Sports Field Solutions, LLC.
With more than 40 years’ experience, Scott has designed, constructed and renovated hundreds of sports fields and athletic complexes in addition to numerous golf courses.
Scott expertly evaluates, consults and manages natural and synthetic athletic field projects across the United States. Scott also provides formal training to school grounds departments, parks maintenance departments and private sports organizations, helping them improvement the safety, playability and appearance of their fields. For more than 10 years, Bills has been teaching courses for the Rutgers University Department of Continuing Education related to sports field construction, maintenance and park liability.
Scott also provides site evaluations, inspections and expert witness services for both plaintiff and defendant cases specifically related to sports field issues and contract disputes.
Scott lives in New Jersey and has two daughters and three grandsons.
Steve Kristoph, Steven Kristoph Nursery
Steve Kristoph is widely known for his encyclopedic knowledge of plant material. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from Rutgers University, and he has been an adjunct instructor at Rutgers for more than 25 years. He also owns and operates Steven Kristoph Nursery in Monmouth County, NJ, where he grows many types of ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. The landscaping division of his business, P. Steven Kristoph Garden Design, serves both residential and commercial customers and offers a full range of services, including design, installation, maintenance and seasonal color. Steve is passionate about plants and enjoys sharing his passion with others.
Continuing Education Credits
The Park Liability and Park Plants course (5.5 contact hours) is approved for the following credits from professional organizations.
New Jersey
NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 3.5 Technical and 3.5 Management Contact Hours
Course Requirements and Policies
Technology Requirements
This online course will be delivered via Zoom.
Equipment you will need to access this training:
- A laptop or desktop computer is required to participate in this class.
- A webcam, speakers, and microphone are recommended but not required (a call-in option will be available for audio).
Approximately one week before the class start date, you will receive an email with additional details and instructions.
Email Requirement
A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.
- If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
- If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
- Your full name
- The shared email address that needs to be changed
- Your unique email address
- A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions
Photo ID Requirement
Each registrant will be asked provide a photo of him/herself holding their government-issued photo ID. This is required by credit boards so that you may receive credits for participating in this online course.
- You will receive a reminder email prior to the start of the class with further instructions. Wait to receive these instructions before you attempt to upload your ID.
- The photo must be clear enough that we can read your name and verify that the person pictured on the ID is in fact the person holding it.
- After an OCPE staff member reviews the picture and verifies your identity, you will have access to participate in the course when it begins.
Cancellations and Substitutions
A $35 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.
Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about Park Liability and Park Plants, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Senior Program Administrator Supervisor: Nathaniel Perrucci
848-932-9271
landscape@njaes.rutgers.edu
Administrative Assistant: Claudine Oleskin
848-932-7204
landscape@njaes.rutgers.edu
For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.
