JPL Industries

JPL Industries supports New Yorkers through its heavy civil, environmental and parks department projects

John, Joseph and Chris Pizzirusso spent their high school summers working for their father’s landscaping company in Brooklyn, N.Y. As the brothers got older and finished college, they all returned to the company to help it grow. Today, J. Pizzirusso Landscaping Corp. — otherwise known as JPL Industries — takes on a wide range of public sector projects throughout New York City’s five boroughs with John as president, Joseph as vice president and Chris as chief operating officer.

John Pizzirusso, president

“In the late ‘70s, my father started the company as a residential landscaping and lawn maintenance provider for private homeowners and commercial buildings,” explained Joseph. “When my brothers and I began to work for the company full time in the early ‘90s, we started to take on more commercial projects. We grew up cutting lawns and knew that wasn’t the future we envisioned for ourselves, but we had a vision to grow the company organically.

“We started subcontracting for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation — building ballfields and playgrounds,” continued Joseph. “From there, we ventured into being prime contractors and started

planting trees along streets for New York City’s million-tree planting program (MillionTreesNYC). Slowly we grew to the point where we could take on entire prime contracts installing the total infrastructure of a park. Over the last seven years, we’ve added more complex infrastructure work and have worked on a wide range of projects throughout the city.”

Joseph Pizzirusso, vice president

Today, JPL Industries works with NYC’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), as well as utility providers throughout the five boroughs.

Joseph notes that JPL Industries separates itself from the competition by never letting go of its roots.

“We have a diverse staff capable of taking on any job that comes our way,” stated Joseph, who added that the firm employs upwards of 150 people during the busy season. “We’re involved in projects ranging from landscaping to heavy civil work. We can build a ballfield and repair water mains. We’ve held on to what made us successful and know that there are not many companies like us that exist.”

Chris Pizzirusso, COO

Major projects

One of JPL Industries’ largest NYC Parks projects was Fairview Park in Staten Island.

“Originally, the site was 12 or 13 acres of forest,” noted Chris. “We removed over 1,500 trees to build a brand-new park. The project included a baseball field, soccer field, tennis courts, pickleball courts and other recreational activities for people to enjoy outside.”

Recently, JPL Industries completed infrastructure work on Staten Island for the DEP’s Bluebelt Program.

A JPL Industries operator uses a Komatsu PC240LC excavator to load a Terex Finlay 863 mobile screening plant and Terex Finlay J-1160 primary mobile jaw crusher on Hart Island. “Steve (Komatsu territory manager) and Dave (product support for Komatsu’s Terex Finlay line) walked us through the Terex machines’ capabilities and why they could be the right fit,” said Joseph Pizzirusso, vice president. “The fact that Komatsu supported Terex through its dealership made the decision easy.”

“The project channels storm runoff into a natural wetland, which filters, cleans and retains the water for a period of time before it eventually returns to the bay,” explained Dionel Lopez, a project manager for JPL Industries. “This type of project utilizes all three aspects of our company. We provided civil infrastructure work, created a natural habitat for wildlife, and addressed flooding and water management problems.”

In 2021, JPL Industries was awarded the contract to transform the potter’s field on Hart Island from a neglected public gravesite into the nation’s largest municipal cemetery.

The firm took over operations from the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) through NYC Parks.

On Hart Island, an operator uses a Komatsu PC240LC excavator to load a Terex Finlay 863 mobile screening plant.

“Our role is to improve all aspects of burial management and visitation to the island and upgrade the landscaping appearance and maintenance, which will ultimately transform the island into a place where families can visit and grieve peacefully,” stated Joseph. “Part of the island’s transformation involves removing dilapidated structures and overgrown vegetation.”

Komatsu delivers

To process material on Hart Island into topsoil, natural stone aggregate and mulch, JPL Industries utilizes several pieces of equipment from their Komatsu dealer — a Terex Finlay 863 mobile screening plant, a Terex Finlay J-1160 primary mobile jaw crusher and a Terex Finlay C-1540 cone crusher. Komatsu equipment on-site includes two PC240LC excavators and two WA380 wheel loaders. With the help of Steve Gambutti, Komatsu territory manager, and Dave Ewald, product support for Komatsu’s Terex Finlay line, JPL Industries found the right machines.

“We have a long history working with Steve and trust him to help us find the right machine for any job,” said Joseph. “When we needed to find machines for the Hart Island project, Steve and Dave walked us through the Terex machines’ capabilities and why they could be the right fit. The fact that Komatsu supported Terex through its dealership made the decision easy. If a machine ever needs service or a part, I know they will take care of us.”

Tony Santoro, senior project manager

The firm’s fleet features several other pieces of Komatsu equipment, including a PC228USLC excavator, a D39PXi intelligent Machine Control (iMC) dozer and a PC490LC excavator.

“There’s nominal downtime with Komatsu equipment,” stated Chris. “Komatsu does a great job staying on top of service through its Komatsu Care program, and the machines are built to handle the stress of working. The 490 excavator is our newest machine and we’re excited about its capabilities.”

The firm added the Komatsu PC490LC excavator to begin work on its Seventh Street project.

Dionel Lopez, project manager

“The Seventh Street project is exciting because its footprint only spans a block and two intersections, but it’ll be challenging because we’re working with deep sewers and around subway lines,” explained Dionel. “We’re increasing the capacity of the existing sewer by building a new one and connecting different lines into the larger system through different-sized chambers. All of this is happening next to and underneath the subway, up to 30 feet deep. We needed a machine like the 490 to handle the excavation depth and load capacity to install slide rail sheets that keep our workers safe.”

Chris notes that the Komatsu D39PXi iMC dozer has transformed the firm’s grading jobs.

“You can lay out every project months ahead of schedule and view it on the screen while you’re working,” explained Chris. “Our operators love it because they don’t have to set up masts; it’s just turn on the dozer and go. It’s great for projects like baseball fields and parks where you’re grading large tracts of land. The slant-nose design lets you see the blade, and you don’t need stakes or surveyors because the GPS is integrated into the machine. It’s been great for us.”

(L-R) John Pizzirusso, president; Steve Gambutti, Komatsu territory manager; Chris Pizzirusso, chief operating officer; Tony Santoro, senior project manager; Dionel Lopez, project manager; and Joseph Pizzirusso, vice president, work together to complete projects efficiently. “We have a long history working with Steve and trust him to help us find the right machine for the job,” said Joseph.

Continued growth

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, JPL Industries intends to ramp up its workload and take on new jobs.

“We slowed down slightly during the pandemic due to several factors, but we have a large backlog of work and are ready to pick up where we left off pre-pandemic,” said Joseph. “There are new projects opening, and we plan to continue bidding them. We’d like to stay within the same scope but take on larger jobs. Just recently, JPL was the low bidder on its largest project to date: the East Coast Resiliency project, which is a $154 million contract in Manhattan. We are confident that we are set up well for the future with Komatsu on our side.” ■