Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – At their Executive Session Thursday the Clarksville City Council heard an update from developers about the planned opening of a new restaurant, the Liberty Park Grill near the Clarksville Marina at Liberty Park.

Darby Campbell and his partner, Bob McManus, told council members they plan to break ground on February 10 with the restaurant expected to be open by Memorial Day. Work on the restaurant was originally scheduled to begin in December but problems with the soil in the area of the construction caused a delay.

Along with the Liberty Park Grill Campbell and McManus are hoping to expand development in the area which could include another restaurant, retail businesses or residential apartments. One restaurant chain that the developers mentioned at the meeting and said they have been in contact with was Mellow Mushroom.

The City Council is being asked to vote on a sublease which would allow more development at Liberty Park and McManus asked the council for their approval. “We would appreciate it if you all would consider that sublease. That just helps facilitate continued growth on the site and sets us up for future development there,” McManus said.

The council also took up a request by Fuse Fireworks and Shows to hold a fireworks display for the March of Dimes Best of Clarksville event scheduled at the Two Rivers Center, 700 North Riverside Drive on October 2. The City Council would have to vote to approve the fireworks before it could take place.

The request was made through the City Council’s Public Safety Committee and chairman of the committee, City Councilman Geno Grubbs, said that there were some concerns about the fireworks and said the committee’s recommendation was disapproval of the request for the fireworks.

Chief Mike Roberts with Clarksville Fire Rescue spoke to the council and added that he was also opposed to the fireworks display mainly because of the area in which the fireworks would be set off. Roberts said Fuse Fireworks is proposing setting off the display in the parking lot behind O’Charley’s restaurant on Riverside Drive.

The regular session of the Clarksville City Council is scheduled for Thursday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers at 106 Public Square.