Hopkinsville Division of Parks and Recreation program coordinator Toby Hudson will be the department’s next superintendent following his selection by Mayor James R. Knight Jr.
Hudson’s salary will be $84,330. His promotion to superintendent is effective May 1, the mayor’s office announced Wednesday in a press release. He will replace Tab Brockman, who is retiring on Sept. 1.
“It is very humbling to be chosen to lead our department,” Hudson said. “We have an amazing team and I am looking forward to working with each one of them to further enhance our community through Parks and Recreation.”
The department has 12 employees who oversee Tie Breaker Park Athletic Complex, Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Hopkinsville Sportsplex, Bluegrass Splash Family Aquatic Center and events throughout the year.
Hudson, 46, is a Hopkinsville native and has worked for the city for 20 years. He completed the Sports Turfgrass Management Certificate Program at the University of Georgia in 2010. He’s a past president of both the Kentucky Sports Turfgrass Managers Association and the Kentucky Turfgrass Council. In 2020, Hudson received the Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society Professional of the Year Award for outstanding contribution to the recreation profession.
“Our community is fortunate to have a person with Toby’s experience and knowledge to move into the superintendent position,” Knight said. “He is well-known and highly thought of in our community. He will keep our Parks and Recreation Division moving forward and will bring his unique talent and vision to lead this outstanding and dedicated team.”
City Administrative Officer Troy Body said Brockman will stay with the department until the end of August to help organize the Summer Salute, a downtown music festival that city officials hope will be the largest to date.
Hudson is a graduate of Leadership Hopkinsville. He’s a member of Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club and Living Hope Baptist Church.
This story was updated to include Hudson’s salary as superintendent.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
