Edwards Gives Back As Park Director

Edwards Gives Back As Park Director

One theme I have continued to encounter while conducting interviews and writing this column is the sense of community among people here in Water Valley. 

By Justin Geurin

A new Water Vallian sits down with the people that make this town special. Geurin and his wife, Robin, and twin daughters moved to town last July

Jacob Edwards, the Park Director at Crawford Sports Complex, is no different as he explains, “I have always had a lot of love for this community and wanted to find ways to be involved.”  Just a few short weeks ago, the Crawford Complex hosted a Dizzy Dean Baseball State Tournament, the first such tournament held in Water Valley, bringing more than 1,300 people to town. So if Edwards ‘goal is to benefit the community, I think he is on the right track. 

Edwards was born and raised in the Valley and his involvement in sports and activities instilled in him a desire to one day give back to the community that did so much for him as a child. He also works at Valley Tool and said he really didn’t know what to expect when he added the job as park director to his schedule. Now, more than a year into the job, Edwards is taking the lessons learned and trying to find new ways to grow the park. 

As it stands, children in the Water Valley community can be involved in several activities at the Crawford Complex. Each fall, youth soccer and flag football leagues are formed, as well as softball and baseball in the spring and summer. For adults, the complex offers a running track, tennis courts, and an open space to host fundraisers, family reunions, or other get-togethers. 

“We want to have something for everyone,” says Edwards, who is constantly thinking of new ways the park could serve the city of Water Valley. 

For starters, this fall the Crawford Complex will host a High School Cross Country meet with the WVHS team competing against teams from across the region, which Edwards hopes will become an annual event. The park also hosted a charity ultimate frisbee tournament last spring, organized by Water Valley senior, Brandon Smith. Edwards also is working with the coaches of high school baseball and softball teams to conduct youth clinics and camps for the community in the coming months. 

According to Edwards, “Communication is the key at all levels.” 

One of Edwards’s favorite aspects of his new role is the time he gets to devote to working with the young people of this community. In his mind, most children are simply looking for some positive attention, which he feels the park and the associated activities can provide. But, the job is not without difficulties, as Edwards describes the organization and scheduling as challenges, as well as the surprising cost of operations. 

“The city does a phenomenal job running and maintaining the park,” Edwards says. The benefit of that maintenance, though, is the tourism possibilities the complex creates. “I had so many people approach me during the state tournament and talk about how great our fields and facilities were,” Edwards proudly exclaims. For him, this job is not just about running the park, but actually providing avenue for tourism to benefit the entire community. 

For Edwards, giving back to this community is a part of his duty to the town he loves so much. He describes Water Valley as a tight-knit community where everyone knows you and what you are doing, which he takes as a positive aspect. 

“This role puts me in the center of the community’s attention at times,” he says, “but that is what drives me to be a better leader and stay positive for the sake of our kids and community members.” 

When asked if he could change anything about Water Valley, he described that many people he has encountered have a real misconception about Water Valley as a town, and he hopes the park and the publicity it generates through hosting tournaments and other events will help change that misconception. “This town is quiet and down-to-earth, but it is also eager to grow,” he says. 

Edwards also wants everyone to find ways to be involved with the events and activities at the Crawford Complex. “I always need coaches,” he exclaims, “but anyone who wants to volunteer, I can find something for them to do. He stresses to all of his volunteer coaches the importance of being positive and encouraging, because of the potential impact they can have on the youth of the community.

Edwards added volunteers can help with concessions, umpiring, or any number of other opportunities. 

“Taylor Trusty sat out here all day on a Saturday selling raffle tickets because he wanted to help,” Edwards says. 

Even though there seems to be plenty of activities going on at the complex, Edwards is not satisfied with being complacent. He credits the late Brownie Crawford, for whom the park is named, with stating, “The only way to come up with a great idea, is to come up with a bunch of ideas.” 

Some of the many ideas we discussed included a splash-pad activity area, a picnic area with tables and seating, and even a digital kiosk at the park entrance with advertising space for local businesses in the event of a tournament. 

Edwards mentioned two different phrases repetitively throughout the interview. The first is that he wanted to run the park as though it were a business. The second is that he refuses to be complacent. “The only thing that stays the same, is that everything changes,” he says.  After speaking with him and hearing his passion and ideas, I think the Crawford Sports Complex is in good hands and Water Valley will reap the benefits of its place in the community for many years to come.  

Now for the rapid-fire questions to close the interview with Jacob Edwards

What was your first car? 

– 1990 Nissan pickup…I had to work to get it!
You are stranded on a desert island, what three things do you want to have with you? 

– My wife, our fire-pit chairs, and sunshine

Is a hotdog considered a sandwich? 

– Yes

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? 

– To be able to see the future

It’s karaoke night, what is your go-to song to sing? 

– Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
Last meal, what do you want? Entrée, dessert, and beverage? 

– Grilled quail with corn on the cob; water with lemon; ice-cold watermelon