CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Work on the Exit 8 Athletic Complex is officially underway. According to a city news release, crews broke ground and began moving dirt last week at the site.
Phase 1 of the new athletic complex, located south of the intersection of Rossview Road and International Boulevard, will include 11 new soccer fields. Four of those fields will have natural grass; four will have a practice-grade surface; and three will be fitted with synthetic turf.
The site also includes pavilions with eight accessible family restrooms, an all-access playground, and ADA-accessible walking trails.
“We are very excited about this upcoming project as it is being built with everyone in mind. Especially at a time when we are transitioning out of our outdated playgrounds that were limited in their accessibility,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Letourneau.
The site will include plenty of parking, with 737 spaces included in the plans.
Currently, crews are focused on the roadway leading to the new athletic complex. Work on the roadway is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023, according to City Project Manager John Hillborn.
The new complex will nearly double the number of soccer fields in Clarksville. City officials say its completion will help to take pressure off Heritage Park, which serves hundreds of young soccer players each weekend.
“It’s really exciting to get this project underway. We’ve been waiting a long time for it. The road is under construction and we’re looking forward to bidding out the athletic complex,” said City Mayor Joe Pitts. “It’ll take some pressure off our existing parks and field infrastructure at Heritage Park and other places, and we’re looking forward to adding more inventory over the next couple of years.”
City officials say they are also looking ahead to a possible second phase of the project. The athletic complex will include room for future development on the north side. No plans have been set in stone. However, phase 2 is expected to include additional sports fields and recreational spaces, nearly doubling the site’s usable space.
For more information on Clarksville’s parks, visit the Parks and Recreation website and Facebook page.