Interim City Manager Bill Burrough announced today the promotion of Urban Forester Anthony Whittington to the position of Parks & Trails Director. The department currently has 18 employees and a $1.735 million budget.
Whittington, who joined the City of Hot Springs last June, holds a bachelor of science degree in recreation and park management from Henderson State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Agriculture and Extension Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He has six years of experience with University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, including serving as an agricultural extension agent in Jefferson County, and five years with the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, where he worked as a park interpreter for both Mount Nebo State Park and Lake Ouachita State Park. Anthony has experience in trail construction and management, urban stormwater educational outreach, farm research, parks maintenance and master gardener program management.
Whittington was recently appointed to the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council Board of Directors. Of the 14-member board, Whittington is the only urban forester. He also serves on the council’s awards nomination committee.
Whittington is a Hot Springs native and a graduate of Lakeside High School. He and his wife Heaven have a son, Zack, 8.
“We received a large applicant pool, which was reviewed by an interview committee,” said Burrough. “Of the five finalists invited for interviews, Anthony was selected as the most qualified person for this position. Please join me in congratulating Anthony on his new role with the organization.”