The Alpharetta City Council has awarded landscaping contracts totaling more than $381,000 in the first year to maintain city parks, athletic fields, the City Center area and downtown container gardens for the Recreational and Parks Department.

Tri Scapes Inc. won the contract for maintaining city parks and athletic fields, valued at $235,270 the first year; and Ed Castro Landscape Inc., for caring for the City Center area, $96,427, and downtown container gardens, $50,208, in Year 1, according to staff summaries of the work. Both contracts run for five years.

Tri Scapes and Castro will be responsible for the care of turf areas including mowing, trimming, aeration, fertilizing, top dressing and other tasks; and maintaining straw and mulch beds, seasonal ornamental plantings, and perennials, shrubs, vines and trees. Castro also will handle seasonal plantings of the container gardens.