The Sedalia Parks and Recreation Department will have a new director effective July 31, as announced Thursday.
The Sedalia Park Board met in closed session July 12 and unanimously approved hiring Amy Epple as the new department director. She will succeed Mark Hewett, who is retiring July 28 after nearly 18 years as director.
Epple said she’s grown up around Parks and Rec in Missouri, participating in little leagues as a child. Her experiences prompted her to change her major in college from political science to parks and recreation management.
“I started in concessions, I was a lifeguard, aquatics manager, and in Sedalia I’ve been recreation supervisor and superintendent. It’s been my goal to eventually want to be a parks and recreation director,” Epple told the Democrat Thursday afternoon. “When this opportunity came that Mark was retiring I was excited because I love Sedalia, I love the Parks and Rec here. I submitted an application and I’m really honored and privileged to succeed Mark. He’s a fine director, he’s taught me a lot. He’s built a great foundation for our Parks and Rec Department and I look forward to expanding on that.”
Epple has a Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management from Central Missouri State University, now the University of Central Missouri. She has worked for Sedalia Parks and Rec for almost six years as Recreation Superintendent and Recreation Supervisor. She has worked in the parks and recreation field for 12 years and received the designation as a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) from the National Recreation and Park Association.
Epple said she’s looking forward to enhancing quality of life for Sedalia citizens and the visitors who attend Sedalia Parks and Rec facilities and programs. She said her experience in Sedalia will help her serve the community in this new role.
“I’ve worked with (Parks Superintendent) Dave Moore and his maintenance crew, I know (Recreation Superintendent) Kari (Tyler), there’s still lifeguards here from when I started,” Epple said. “It helps I know the community — I know what’s needed here, I understand there needs to be free programs, I understand there needs to be something for everyone, quality programs for everyone.
“Things do change but you’re learning and hearing what Sedalia needs and what people want from Sedalia,” she added. “I worked in Warrensburg Parks and Recreation for about a total of seven years and they have a community center. People here want a community center, and I plan to be here for 20 to 30 years, so I hope in my time here that’s something I can accomplish.”
