CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A petition calling for construction of a North Clarksville community center has gained thousands of signatures on Change.org.
As of Friday, Feb. 12, the petition started by Ward 1 City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Richard Garrett has gathered over 3,500 signatures.
“Clarksville has not built a community center since the 1980s when the population was approximately 54,777,” Garrett told Clarksville Now. “North Clarksville is starving for this kind of amenity, rather than just investing all of our funds downtown and in the Sango area. Let’s do something for North Clarksville.”
Garrett’s petition calls for the construction of a recreation-focused community center featuring indoor and outdoor amenities. Features requested in the petition include three basketball courts, six volleyball courts, batting cages, meeting rooms, a computer lab, a weight room, outdoor green space and an indoor soccer/multi-purpose soccer turf field.
An example of the type of space he envisions is in Round Rock, Texas. His petition uses a rendering of the Round Rock Sports Center as an example cover photo.
Where to put it?
The City of Clarksville has taken action on the idea, setting up an RFP (request for proposal) process seeking land owners interested in selling a site for the project.
Garrett said the only person to respond was Bill Belew, who offered to sell the city a parcel at the corner on Needmore and Hazelwood Road.
Initially, Parks and Recreation had been considering the purchase of 10 acres for the project, but discussed buying more at a meeting on Monday. Garrett said he had been in contact with Belew, who would be willing to sell up to 20 acres for a community center, reserving only 2 acres on which he hopes to build a gas station.
How much would it cost?
While a specific price tag has not been given for the construction of a North Clarksville Community Center, a facility like the one described in Garrett’s petition would cost a healthy sum.
While he recognizes the cost, Garrett said a community center would pay for itself through direct and indirect revenue.
An estimate by the Clarksville Visitors Bureau provided by Garrett shows the projected impact of sports events at the proposed facility. Basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and wrestling tournaments held at the site could generate approximately $6.2 million in annual revenue as well as an additional $156,644 in direct sales tax revenue for the city and county.
What’s next?
Garrett said the next milestone for his petition is 5,000 signatures, at which point a copy will be sent to council members as well as Mayor Joe Pitts.
A petition cannot obligate action by local leaders, but Garrett hopes to bring an ordinance on the center “soon.”