Remembering Toby Book

The City of Pittsburg is mourning the loss of long-time city employee, Tobias “Toby” Book, who passed away on Oct 29.

Toby began his nearly three-decade long career with the City of Pittsburg on Feb. 24, 1997, in the Traffic and Communications division of the Public Works Department. Over the years he worked as a heavy equipment operator, parks project coordinator, parks superintendent, and eventually the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

In these roles he was instrumental in improvements to the Jaycee Ballpark complex, the Everybody Plays improvements at Schlanger Park, the restroom and concession stand projects at Lincoln Park, keeping the Aquatic Center operational throughout the summers, and more.

“Toby and I spent a lot of hours brainstorming Parks projects, and many of those were while we were out on the trails,” said Kim Vogel, Director of Human Resources. “He never backed down from a crazy idea I presented; we had to revise a lot of them but together we figured out funding and made things happen.”

In October 2021, Toby was named the Director of Parks and Recreation. Under his direction the Parks Department experienced incredible growth including the new Jack Johnson Pickleball complex, the new Pittsburg mini golf course, a new irrigation system for Four Oaks Golf Course, improvements to the driving range, the Pittsburg Aquatics Center, Lincoln Center and the JJ Richards Band Dome. He was in the process of completing plans for new soccer and ballfields at the time of his passing.

Toby worked with many local organizations throughout his career with the City including the Pittsburg Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Active Transportation Advisory Board, Little Balkans Committee, JL Hutchinson League, Pittsburg Fastpitch Association, Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Pittsburg Beautiful, Everybody Plays, Pittsburg 150, the YMCA, St. Mary’s Colgan and Pittsburg High School athletics, Pittsburg State Club Baseball, American Legion Baseball, Pittsburg State University Construction Department, SEK-CTEC, and many other groups and community members.

“Toby was a champion for the Parks and Recreation Department and Pittsburg overall,” City Manager Daron Hall said. “I will miss him personally as well as our staff who will continue to work on the projects that inspired him to make Pittsburg Parks and Recreation a destination with something for everyone.”

You can leave condolences for his family and friends, and see his full obituary online.