CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – As the weather starts to warm up in Clarksville, the city Parks and Recreation Committee has been building multiple new playgrounds around town for the community to enjoy.
Three playgrounds are already completed, another is under construction, and another one is coming this summer. Each park has different themes and color schemes, and they are being built with accessibility in mind.
Over the past few months, Parks and Recreation focused on two parks for new playgrounds. Dixon Park recently had two new playgrounds installed, and Billy Dunlop Park had one, Clarksville Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Letourneau told Clarksville Now.
The Dixon Park playgrounds are at 117 S. 10th St. and the Billy Dunlop Park playground is at 1930 E. Boy Scout Road.
Current and future construction
During the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting on March 11, Letourneau said Swan Lake Athletic Complex has a playground under construction, and Ewing Burchett Park will also be getting a new playground over the summer.
The Swan Lake Athletic Complex playground will be at 2003 Sanders Road, and the Ewing Burchett Park playground will be at 520 Roselawn Drive.
Of course, the playgrounds needed funding to make them successful, but much of that cost has come from other sources. “Several of these (the playgrounds) were paid for through grant funding and were no cost to citizens,” Letourneau said.
Accessibility for special needs
With the playgrounds being built, an important factor was accessibility. “Our intent is to make the playgrounds as inclusive as possible so that everyone can enjoy them,” Letourneau said.
Parks and Recreation is working with an adaptive round table organized by Ereka Clark and Kimberly Gilbert to provide programs, events and services to people with special needs.
For the full list of Clarksville’s playgrounds and locations, go to the City of Clarksville parks list.
Correction: The adaptive needs round table was not involved in the playgrounds’ development. The article has been updated.
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