The Division of Parks and Recreation is responsible for programming, scheduling, and supervising of a variety of year-round, indoor and outdoor, leisure activities, for our citizens and visitors, within the community’s parks, recreation areas, and recreation center. 

Full-time staff includes a Superintendent, a Recreation Programs Coordinator, and a Secretary.  We also utilize part-time and seasonal workers in our sports leagues, Summer Adventure Day Camp, and the Tie Breaker Park concessions operation.  The Division’s FY08-09 operating budget is $410,300.00, excluding Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center.

Tie Breaker Family Aquatic Center, within Tie Breaker Park, opened in 2007.  Open each summer, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, management of the facility and the concessions is through closely supervised contracts with private partners. 

Tie Breaker Park is a regional park, with a complex of five lighted softball fields, a concessions/restrooms/scorekeepers building, covered bleachers, and ample parking.  One of the finest softball complexes in the area, numerous tournaments are hosted throughout the season.  In 2008, Tie Breaker Park was awarded the National Softball Association/Baseball Players Association “National Park Award” for Kentucky.  Tie Breaker Park also offers patrons with a walking trail, a playground, three individual family picnic shelters, sand volleyball courts, and a large picnic shelter, which is available for public rental. 

Ruff Park and DeBow Recreational Complex are large community parks with game fields, playgrounds, and picnic shelters.  Ruff Park also has twelve tennis courts, 2 picnic shelters, playground and several soccer fields.  DeBow Recreational Complex has been re-designed to include two soccer fields, two multi-use fields, a group picnic shelter, a community built playground, and a disc golf course.  Construction began in 2008, with completion scheduled for 2009.  DeBow Recreational Complex will be the home of Ambush Soccer and the site of numerous regional and state-wide soccer events.

The Recreation Center (formerly known as the Recreation Department), adjacent to DeBow Recreational Complex, includes the Offices for the Division of Parks & Recreation, a full-size gym, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and a maintenance shop.  The gym, meeting rooms, and kitchen are routinely and frequently rented to the public for parties, reunions, and banquets.  The gym, which is used for dances and indoor basketball and volleyball leagues, is also open to the public each weekday afternoon. 

Little River Park, downtown, is frequently used for community wide events, such as the Little River Days and the Derby Arts Festival held in May, and the annual City Christmas Tree Lighting.  Virginia Park is also used for community events, such as Fall Fest. 

In addition to the regional and community parks, there are seven neighborhood parks, including:  East 18th Street Park, East 2nd Street Park, Joe Mumford Park, Peace Park, West 1st Street Park, West 18th Street Park, and Westside Park.  Ft. Campbell Memorial Park is a passive, memorial park, open to the public, but reserved for ceremonial use by Fort Campbell.

Some of the other recreational facilities in Hopkinsville not operated by the Division of Parks and Recreation are: Jeffers Bend Environmental Center & Botanical Gardens, Kenny Litchfield Complex, Trail of Tears Park, or The Boys & Girls Club.  Please contact these sites for more information or a list of activities.  Jeffers Bend Environmental Center & Botanical Gardens is an outdoor recreation and environmental studies area leased and operated by the Jeffers Bend Steering Committee; for more information please visit their website http://www.gardeninginkentucky.com/jeffersbend/home.html .  The Kenny Litchfield Complex, within Ruff Park, is operated, managed, and maintained by the Hopkinsville-Christian County Youth League, Inc; for more information please visit their website  http://www.hccyl.com/ .  Trail of Tears Park is operated and managed by the Trail of Tears Park Commission; for more information please visit their website http://www.trailoftears.org/ .  The former Walnut Street Center is now the home of the Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville - Christian County for more information please visit their website http://www.bgc-hoptown.org/ .

Annually planned and scheduled programs include:
•    Youth and Adult Basketball Leagues   
•    Valentine’s Day Dance for Special Needs Population           
•    WHOP'er of an Easter Egg Hunt
•    Adult Softball Leagues
•    Pennyrile Senior Games
•    Disc Golf Tournament
•    Little River Days Festival
•    Summer Adventure Day Camp
•    Downtown Cruise In
•    Adult Volleyball League
•    Halloween Party
•    Halloween Costume Contest
•    Downtown Trick or Treat
•    Downtown Christmas Parade
•    Christmas Holiday Dance
•    City Christmas Tree Lighting

Currently, the 2002 Recovery Action Plan, which inventoried and evaluated our community parks and recreation resources, is being updated to provide us with a comprehensive analysis of our present needs, challenges, and opportunities.  Ultimately, the 2009 Recovery Action Plan will provide us with a guide to continued operation, management, and development of our community parks and recreation resources.

For more information please visit the Division of Parks & Recreation's website at http://www.hoptownrec.com