photo by Seth Kroft

Parks, People, & Passion - How Billings Parks & Recreation Builds Community

March 2025

Article by Tory Kolkhorst | Photos by Seth Croft

Billings Parks and Recreation offers our community more than playgrounds and picnic tables; they’re the pulse of civic engagement, providing Billings natives with spaces and programs to come together in the spirit of wellness. While we may not live in Pawnee, Indiana, under the enthusiastic charge of the infamous Leslie Knope, Billings Parks and Recreation has its own brand of passionate leadership, starting with Kory Thomson, Recreation Superintendent, who has been a mainstay in this program for nearly 33 years. Simply Local had the opportunity to sit down with Kory to learn how he and his team keep up with approximately 2,580 acres of parkland and more than 270 recreation programs. Clearly, his team boasts a unique blend of dedication, creativity, and passion for recreating, allowing them to ensure Billings remains a vibrant place for residents and visitors alike.

photo courtesy of Billing Parks & Recreation

Get to Know the Superintendent

Sports and recreation have always been key to Kory and his family's lifestyle. Kory played baseball through college, officiated high school football for twenty years, and fostered the same love for athletics in his children. His son played collegiate baseball and is now gearing up to be the head coach for the inaugural baseball season at West High School. His daughter excelled as a collegiate volleyball player.

Kory began his career with Billings Parks and Recreation in 1992, initially as the Recreation Supervisor, before transitioning to his current role as the Recreation Superintendent in 2013. When asked to describe his role, Kory shared, “My job is two-fold. A big part of what I do is work to hopefully provide our recreation specialists with the resources they need to be successful, as well as ensure the activities and programs we offer the community are successful. We also look to provide new opportunities for folks in whatever they may be interested in.”

“WHAT WE DO HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON KIDS AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES – WHETHER THAT’S TEACHING KIDS LESSONS ABOUT TEAMWORK AND HELPING THEM BUILD THEIR SELF- ESTEEM, PROVIDING ADULTS WITH AN OUTLET TO PLAY BASKETBALL IN THE WINTER TIME, OR GIVING SENIOR CITIZENS SAFE PLACES TO GET HEALTHY AND STRONG. I LOVE WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AND SEEING THEM BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE HOW WHAT WE DO HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.”

- Kory Thomson

photo by Seth Kroft

Small Year-Round Crew, Big Impact

Just as Leslie Knope and her small but passionate team prove to everyone that it only takes a few dedicated individuals to make a lasting difference in their community, the same rings true at Billings Parks and Rec. At the helm of everyday operations is a small but mighty team that keeps things running year-round. “No day is the same. We have to be jacks- of-all-trades,” Kory shared when asked about day-to-day tasks. “We have six full-time positions total, but we end up needing to hire around 200 seasonal positions from lifeguards to camp counselors, concession stand workers, coaches, officials, instructors, and so on. There is not necessarily a line of people trying to sign up for these spots, so we really need folks to apply. Filling these spots is how we’re able to offer all of our programs,” he added. These jobs are ideal for high school and college students looking for an upbeat work environment with flexible hours that can be arranged to fit their schedules. From gaining experience in customer service, team building, leadership, and beyond, these seasonal roles are ideal for resume building and prove to be a great way to contribute to the Billings community and have fun in the process. If you or someone you know is interested in applying, you can visit the City of Billings website to learn more.

Challenges and Triumphs

In Billings, you may not find Pawnee’s infamous waffles or quirky town hall meetings, but you will find the same can- do attitude and drive to improve the community, one park and program at a time. Running Billings Parks and Rec with limited full-time staff members and tight resources is no small feat, but Kory and his crew continue to bring passion and ingenuity to every venture. “Creativity is a key component to what we do, to begin with,” says Kory. “We have to find a way to provide programs that people are interested in, and we have to find the best ways to market those programs because social media isn’t as effective as it used to be.” Parks and Rec faces a significant challenge in ensuring that community members are aware of and sign up for their fantastic programs, as participation is crucial to making these programs impactful.

To address this, they are focusing on finding efficient and cost-effective ways to connect their services with the community. “We are in the process of developing a new mobile app, which should go live March 15th – just in time for the April 1st registration date for summer programs. We are hoping this will streamline things and better connect us with the community,” explains Kory.

Looking to the Future

As we look ahead at what’s next for Billings Parks and Recreation, folks from near and far can look forward to the new Amend Park Recreation Campus, set to open in 2026. These grounds will be a game-changer for expanding programs and opportunities for Billings residents and visitors, from a sports court facility with four full-size basketball courts, a soccer field, and a state-of-the-art ice arena made possible by a generous donation from Signal Peak Energy. This project will catalyze sports tourism throughout the Yellowstone Valley and would certainly be a dream that Leslie Knope herself would rally behind.

With big plans for growth and excitement on the horizon, the team at Billings Parks and Rec remains committed to fostering opportunities for small, everyday moments that become lasting memories. Just ask Kory, who met his wife, Rhonda, at Rose Park Pool back in the day when he was the pool manager and she was a lifeguard. Stories like this remind us why our parks and programs are so important – they provide spaces and opportunities for people of all ages to gather and build connections that could last a lifetime. In the spirit of the hit show Parks and Recreation, Billings Parks and Rec reminds us that behind every program, park, and picnic table is a team of dedicated public servants committed to fostering a vibrant community.

Originally printed in the March 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Check this article out in the digital issue of Simply Local here!

Tory Kolkhorst

Tory Kolkhorst grew up in the Huntley Project community, went on to receive degrees from Texas A&M University, and then quickly returned to the Last Best Place, where she and her husband, Collin, have planted roots to raise their two children, Kennedy and Crew. With a day job in federal government, Tory finds indulgence in audiobooks, reality TV, Crumbl cookies, and Taylor Swift songs. Proverbs 9:10.

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