Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In a special session before their regular Thursday meeting the Clarksville City Council heard from Lose & Associates, an architectural firm involved in the study of a potential Clarksville Athletic Complex”.

The main emphasis of the presentation Thursday was about possible sites for a recreational facility covering around 150 acres. Chris Camp with Lose & Associates told the council that two locations topped their list. The top site was at 1850 Rossview Road in the area of the planned Hankook Tire plant with the other at 2174 Tiny Town Road.

See the Rossview area plans here

Camp talked about a full program of possible offerings on the sites which would include soccer, rugby and lacrosse fields along with an indoor tennis complex and indoor ice facility. The Rossview Road site which Camp indicated was their first choice would also include a Blueway access to the Red River.

See the Tiny Town area plans here

The indoor ice facility was something that has raised excitement in the community with Mayor Kim McMillan hinting that the Nashville Predators hockey team has shown interest in possibly being a partner in such a project.

The “Clarksville Athletic Complex” was first conceived as a soccer complex when the study began in 2012 but the idea has grown into a facility which could house other sports and activities. Many of those city officials and citizens responding to the study said having more than just soccer would increase revenue and tourism for Clarksville.

To help with the cost of constructing the recreational facility, Camp talked about the various aspects of the athletic complex being built in phases with the higher revenue generating indoor facilities constructed first followed by outdoor facilities.

Mayor McMillan told the council and those at the meeting that feasibility studies are continuing and the first determination is location and what would go on the land. “I will tell you that there are no specific cost estimates for what would be adopted by the council because all of that is still in flux,” said McMillan.

Clarksville Parks & Recreation Director Mark Tummons talked about how a year round facility like the athletic complex would benefit the city. “It has tremendous opportunities for revenue but it would also provide facilities that Clarksville just does not have,” Tummons said.

Much of Thursday’s meeting was a sometimes heated discussion between on a resolution by Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin directing the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission to gather, create and provide maps of Wards 2, 3 and 4 with documentation pertaining to a study of a potential overlay district.

The main debate was over whether the council had the power to direct the planning commission to follow what the resolution stated or just ask for the information. McLaughlin represents Ward 2 and Ward 3 Councilman James Lewis raised an objection to McLaughlin’s request for information involving his ward.

McLaughlin said she wanted the maps and the information which she said came from a request by her constituents who would like to see about the possibility of improvements in the appearance of the area of Fort Campbell Boulevard and Dover Road.

A final 7-4 vote passed in McLaughlin’s favor with Mayor McMillan stating her opposition to the resolution passing. After the meeting McLaughlin talked about the vote. “I’m pleased my colleagues are allowing me to obtain that information to do the research to see if there is potential for a future overlay,” McLaughlin said.

Also at Thursday’s city council session, the council voted to spend the money to repair the World War I Doughboy statue which stands in front of the Clarksville Transit System transfer station. There was also talk of setting up some type of protection or even moving the statue to help prevent vandalism.

Before the City Council meeting Mayor McMillan presented a proclamation to 13 local athletic trainers as part of National Athletic Trainers Month “We’ve got your back” campaign.

See the Rossview area plans here.

See the Tiny Town area plans here.