CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Hundreds of people turned out Tuesday morning for the Mayors’ Power Breakfast at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center, where they heard updates on several city and county projects.
The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce event serves as a state-of-the-city and -county address by City Mayor Joe Pitts and Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden.
Mayor Joe Pitts
Pitts focused on a theme of “Growing forward together,” saying that as Clarksville continues its rapid growth, it’s important that we work together to ensure we grow in ways that are healthy for everyone. The city’s population is expected to grow from 180,000 in 2024 to 260,000 in 2040. As this growth continues, we need to focus on housing affordability and availability, he said.
“It may seem like we’re out recruiting people to move to our community, but people are discovering what we already know: that this is the best place to live anywhere by far,” Pitts said.
He offered the updates on several city projects, with additional detail from the city’s Annual Report 2024, including these:
- Performing Arts Center: A groundbreaking is expected this summer. Construction will take 18-24 months.
- Rossview Athletic Complex: Under construction is Phase 1, which involves “extensive earthwork” and utilities installation.
- Hazelwood Recreation Complex: Soon to be under construction. This is the project that will replace Clarksville Speedway, which is expected to be sold to the city.
Pitts previewed a new city program called the Restoring Clarksville Initiative. The idea is to help improve properties that have been neglected or abandoned, including by out-of-town owners. Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin will lead the effort.
He also pointed out that crime is down in Clarksville. Both the crime rate and the total number of offenses have declined every year for the last four years.
Pitts closed by saying he and Golden have “recommitted ourselves to making sure that the city and county work together. That is our priority and that is our promise.”
Mayor Wes Golden
Golden focused on three key words: “Summer of 25,” encouraging the crowd to chant those three words each time he gave them the cue.
He highlighted these updates, among several others:
- New Animal Control building: Scheduled to open in summer 2025, specifically September.
- North Branch Library: Scheduled to open in summer 2025, specifically September.
- Parking garage at F&M Bank Arena: Scheduled to open in summer 2025. He also announced that through a collaboration between the Industrial Development Board, Millan Enterprises and other local partners, a sale of naming rights to the garage will prevent the county from having to borrow money to pay for it, as had been planned.
- Highway Department building: Scheduled to open in summer 2025.
- Rossview Road widening: Purchasing of right-of-way is still under way.
Golden discussed the ongoing Greenway expansion project, which is being supported with a grant from the Community Health Foundation. The greenway expansion is under construction near the end of Jarrell Ridge Road, and the plan is to connect the Clarksville Greenway to the Ashland City Greenway, by way of Cheatham Dam. Golden said he’s met with Ashland City leaders about meeting Montgomery County halfway on the project.
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He spoke of several other collaborative projects such as the response to the East Tennessee fires and the successful effort to change state legislation to fund the new county fire chief position.
“It’s great to live in a community where there’s more collaboration than competition,” Golden said.
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