Philip Sparn | ClarksvilleNow.com
psparn@Clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Clarksville community and the Parks and Recreation Department marked the opening of the Robert Clark Park and Blueway access point on Saturday morning with an official ribbon cutting and celebratory float down the West Fork Red River.
Many members of the Clarksville community came to the ribbon cutting to see the official opening of Robert Clark Park Natural Area and to experience the park’s Blueway access point first-hand at 1449 Tiny Town Road.
Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan spoke at the ribbon cutting and thanked all of the people that contributed to the development of Robert Clark Park, including the Clark Family, volunteers, the Friends of the Blueway community organization, the state of Tennessee, the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department and many others.
“This is only the beginning,” said McMillan. “We have plans for more of these access points and we want to make Clarksville home to one of the greatest Blueway systems in America, and we are going to do it.
Mayor McMillan was excited about the first addition to Clarksville’s Blueway and was anxious to experience what the new access point had to offer.
“I’m ready to do some paddling,” McMillan emphasized. “I don’t know about ya’ll but I’m ready to cut this ribbon, so we can start paddling.”
After the official ribbon cutting, McMillan was the first person to hop in a canoe with her husband and Chancellor Larry McMillan Jr. along with city councilman Geno Grubbs to float down the West Fork Red River a couple of miles to Billy Dunlop Park.
Local outfitter Blueway Adventure provided kayaks and canoes for paddlers to enjoy the waterways and test out the new access point. Members of the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department and Blueway Adventure were on hand helping paddlers get into the water.
Mayor McMillan may have been the first paddler down the river, but, dozens of other members of the Clarksville community soon followed and paddled the beautiful 2.5 mile float to Billy Dunlop Park as well.
Mohamed Kaherbouche, an active duty soldier at Fort Campbell recently back from deployment, enjoyed the inaugural float down Clarksville’s Blueway with his six-year-old son.
“It was very fun to experience nature and spend time with my son,” said Kaherbouche. “It was a great bonding experience with him and I encourage any dad to try it out with their family.”
Kaherbouche pointed out that his son had a blast on the scenic float down the West Fork Red River.
“My son loves being out in nature and he was curious about all of the surroundings the entire trip,” said Kaherbouche.
Jerry Martelli emphasized that the West Fork Red River is the most beautiful waterway in the Clarksville Area and is glad the city opened up the new park and access point.
“The water on the new Blueway route is absolutely gorgeous,” said Martelli. “I’ve seen wild turkey, deer, turtles and tons of other wildlife out here… If you haven’t experienced how beautiful it is yet, you have to get out here to see it for yourself.”
Naomi Conner, president of Friends of the Blueway, was very excited about the official opening of the Blueway access point at Robert Clark Park.
“The water was flowing, the weather was great, everybody was excited,” said Conner. “You couldn’t have asked for a better backdrop and atmosphere to open the park and Blueway.”
Connor was very thankful for all the work and time that the volunteers, the city of Clarksville and local outfitter Blueway Adventures had put into the project.
“It is a perfect access point to take an easy scenic float down the river for just a couple hours and see some beautiful wildlife and surroundings,” said Connor. “There are plans for more access points on Clarksville’s Blueways in the future and I am excited to see what is in store.”
Connor pointed out that investments like Robert Clark Park and the Blueway access help spur local economic development and encourage people in the community to “love where they live.”
The land for Robert Clarks Park was donated by Robert Clark and the Clark family and was developed by the city of Clarksville using a $150,000 state grant.
Robert Clark wanted to donate the land for the park out of his love for playing at the park’s river access his entire life, and he wanted to share that experience with everyone in the Clarksville community for years to come.
The Friends of the Blueway community organization meets the third Monday of every month at the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department at 6 p.m.
For more information on the Friends of the Blueway organization, visit their Facebook page here.
Photos by Philip Sparn | ClarksvilleNow.com
Check out our photos from the Robert Clark ribbon cutting and Blueway opening here
Check out our photos from the Robert Clark ribbon cutting and Blueway opening here