Get to Know KYSFMA Member: Toby Hudson- Hopkinsville Parks & Rec

Toby Hudson is the Superintendent for Parks and Recreation for the City of Hopkinsville, Ky. He has been

employed by the City of Hopkinsville for 23 years.

The first 10 years he spent his time as a Groundskeeper at Tie Breaker Park Softball Complex (5-field

softball complex) and DeBow Recreational Complex (4-field soccer complex). In 2012, he accepted

Recreation Programs Coordinator, with Parks and Recreation, working with programs, special events,

and sporting events, along with continuing his programming and involvement of Athletic Fields and

Western Hills Golf for the City of Hopkinsville. In May of 2023, he was named as the Superintendent of

the Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation.

In 2010, Toby completed the Sports Turfgrass Management Certificate Program (CSTM) from the

University of Georgia and in 2012 became a Landscape Industry Certified Manager (LIC) from the

National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and is currently completing a degree in Business

Administration/Management.

In 2015, Toby was elected to serve as the President of the Kentucky Sports Turfgrass Managers

Association, which is a local chapter of the national Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and is

dedicated to professionalism in the sports turf industry. The KySTMA is committed to leadership in the

KY Sports Turf industry by promoting professionalism, safe/quality surfaces, local education & turfgrass

research.

Toby has also served on the Kentucky Turfgrass Council Board of Directors (2013-2019) and is a past

President of the Kentucky Turfgrass Council. Toby served 3 three-year terms and worked with 13 other

board members who represent all aspects of the turfgrass industry, including golf courses, sports fields,

lawns and landscapes, and chemical and fertilizer sales and research. He continues to be actively

involved in the development and implementation of the turfgrass industry in the state of Kentucky.

In 2020, Toby received the Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society (KRPS) Professional of the Year Award

for outstanding contribution to the recreation profession.

In 2025, Toby was voted to the board of Kentucky Recreation and Parks Society as District 1

Representative.

Toby lives in Hopkinsville, Kentucky with his wife (Melissa) and daughter (Hannah). When not working,

Toby enjoys golf and spending time with family. Toby can be reached at thudson@h-ky.us