Trisha Tackett did not pursue the Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department’s director position when it became available in October for the first time in more than two decades.

Ten months later when the position was vacant once again, she felt ready for a new role.

“I feel like the timing is better in a lot of different areas in my life,” said Tackett on Tuesday.

Eight days earlier, Tackett was introduced as the new director of the parks department after serving as the department’s Recreation Director for more than 20 years.

“I was approached to see if I wanted the position,” explained Tackett. “I had a few things I needed to sift through first, just because I have been here for 27 years. That’s a long time. I love the current job I do. I love being the recreation director. It will be a change but nothing that I can’t tackle.

“It will just be different, but still in the same aspect of helping my community. That’s what I work for – my community.”

Tackett was hired nearly three decades ago to serve as front desk personnel. She later became recreation director which has exposed her to all aspects of the parks department.

While there will be a transition period for Tackett, she has filled in for the parks department’s last two directors, Karen Martin and Rob Van Til, on multiple occasions.

“For many, many years, I fell into place in Karen’s absence,” said Tackett. “I was the one that went to the meetings when she was out … and same thing with Rob, subbing in those times of absence. I feel like I’ve done all of that so it’s not like I need a training period to see how things work here. I’ve got it. I know how things work here.

“There are certain areas where I will need a little more guidance on because I wasn’t involved in it before. Now it’s part of my job. I want to do it well but I need to understand it. In order for me to do it well, I want to understand what I am supposed to be doing. That will take some time and some help from others.”

What Tackett will not do is rush to hire her replacement as recreation director.

“I feel like I have time to transition over into my new spot and I don’t want to rush into something,” she said. “I feel like what’s best for this department is to let me transition through first. If you bring someone in, you need to train that individual. I need to learn a little bit more on my end before I can honestly train someone with the quality they are going to need. One thing I am not going to do is bring someone in just to have someone in there.”

Parks department photo: Trisha Tackett poses for a photo with her youngest daughter, Jaidyn, a lifeguard at Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center in Shelbyville.

Tackett’s ability to develop relationships within the community have helped her be successful in her past role that included staffing the Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center, overseeing summer camp and acting as the “principal” for the parks department’s preschool.

“I’ve put a lot of heart and time into what I do here and the one thing I always tell people, you have to truly believe in what you are selling – and I do,” said Tackett. “I believe that ‘Parks Make Life Better.’ I wear it with pride. I want others to do the same. That is my goal. That is my mission.”

And she will take her time to find a new recreation director.

“I don’t know the person I want to put in there but I know the type of person I want to put in there,” she explained. “I want to put someone in there that wants to be outgoing, and wants to be hands on and wants to be out in the public and building relationships.

“I am big on relationships and that’s why I feel why I have been successful as the recreation director and my programs and activities and events show that because you have to build relationships with people. You have to truly get out there and talk to people and be a hard worker and be organized. I know the type of person I want to put in that position but we are not going to do it right away. We are going to have a transition period first then work on getting someone.”

Tackett guarantees that as director she will still be highly visible in the community. The new title won’t impact her ability to help out when needed with any parks department task.

“I have had the privilege of being able to do that for so long with my job. I love that part of it,” she said. “Even as a director, you need to still be involved. That is the whole concept of it. I don’t care whether you are sitting in the big chair or the small chair, you need to be involved in what your people are doing and what your community is doing.

“That won’t change for me.”