As a mom, Tina Amick knew her four boys needed her for many things at home. When they no longer leaned on her as much when they got older, she looked for the next thing to fill her time.
When the opportunity presented itself, Amick added Russellville director of parks and recreation to her list of titles.
She also has served as East Ward alderwoman for two years but will not seek re-election after the end of her term in April.
Prior to Amick, the city did not have a parks committee. She formed the committee in May 2017, and four other community members serve on it to plan events, fundraise for park improvements and keep the Board of Aldermen up to date on opportunities to promote the parks.
The two parks in town - City Park on West High Street and Railroad Park on Railroad Avenue - feature public community gathering spaces with barbecue pits and benches. City Park has a pavilion, gazebo and Shelter House, which is available to rent for events.
"I wasn't anyone that anyone would recognize in the community other than my husband," Amick said. "I wanted to use this as an opportunity to bring the community together."
Her husband, Jeremy, was born and raised in Russellville. She said she wanted to keep the memories he shared about public parks alive in the community.
After becoming parks director, she said, she updated the City Park Shelter House, including new paint, and secured a $200 grant from Thrivent to buy tables and chairs. A citywide garage sale April 26-27 will allow a limited number of residents to rent space for $5 to sell their items.
Amick's 17 years of experience as an information technology project manager in state government gave her the skills she needed to work on tasks, work with others and plan events.
The parks committee held its first event Aug. 21, 2017, at Railroad Park during the solar eclipse. The event featured an educational tent, music, art, blackout bingo and more. Amick said she was surprised more than 400 visitors attended.
"The eclipse was a rare thing, and that was such a huge success," she said. "For me it was a success when I was looking around and saw people were really enjoying themselves."
Since then the committee has held fundraisers and other events, like its Holiday Express with Santa's workshop and a lighted tractor parade, which drew about 200 guests in December.
Amick said making people aware of what Russellville's parks have to offer creates a closer community.
Becoming parks director also tied to her concern for public safety. Since Russellville doesn't have a police department, she said, it's the residents' job to look out for each other. It helps for people to gather and know each other, she added.
"We don't all go to the same churches, we don't all have kids in school, but I thought if we could have some events in our park and promote our parks it's just a neat place to have a space where people can create memories," she said.