HASTINGS, Neb. – Hastings Parks Maintenance Superintendent Terry Brown is the best groundskeeper in the state, according to the Nebraska Sports Field Management Association.

Brown was recently awarded the 2024 'Groundskeeper of the Year' award at the Nebraska Turf Conference in La Vista on Jan. 8.

“I feel very blessed that I was in that group of people to get the awards.” said Brown.

According to a city news release, Brown and the Hastings Parks staff hosted about 50 Nebraska Sports Field Management Association members at the Bill Smith Softball Complex in the fall of 2023.

He says the softball complex is one of the gems of the many parks and fields in Hastings.

“People, when they come here, they really enjoy their stay in the city of Hastings and participating on the fields we have out there.” said Brown.

As the maintenance superintendent, Brown oversees a crew 13 employees that maintain the 20 parks in Hastings.

One of the most notable yearly projects the Parks and Rec Department works on each year is the transformation of Duncan Field, which hosts baseball teams in the spring and summer, and football teams in the fall.

Brown is approaching his 30-year anniversary with the Hastings Parks and Rec Department.

  City of Hastings