CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In recent months, many communities have experienced unease between their police force and the community. This however, is not the case in Clarksville where Parks & Recreation is joining forces with the Clarksville Police Department (CPD) to bring forth “Bridging the Gap Week” as a part of the Mayor’s Summer Night Lights program on Monday, July 20 at the Kleeman Center and Wednesday, July 22 at Summit Heights from 5:30 to 9 p.m. each night. Free food and drinks will be provided.
About the Mayor’s Summer Night Lights Program
Bridging the Gap through Basketball
Bridging the Gap Week will begin Monday evening with a free, 5-on-5 basketball tournament for ages 14 and older at the Kleeman Community Center. Anyone wishing to participate in this tournament must be at the location no later than 5:45 p.m. to sign up.
The twist of that week’s tournament is that teams will also consist of CPD officers. Detective Tyler Barrett, Detective William Gilboy, Officer W. Tracy Braley, Officer Gary Mefford, Officer Bradley Holder, and Officer Darren Koski will show their skills on the court alongside Clarksville’s youth and young adults. The winning team will receive a trophy as the Summer Night Lights Champions.
The officers are looking forward to this tournament for several reasons.
“We take pride in building positive relationship with the community we serve. We get a chance to know the community and they, in turn, get a chance to know the officers on a personal level, not just as someone who wears a uniform and drives a patrol car,” Lieutenant Chad Koyama of the Clarksville Police Department said. “We believe that through fostering positive relationships through mutual interests [sports] the citizens of Clarksville and the Police Department will continue to make Clarksville a premier spot to live and raise a family. We are all kids at heart and like to play basketball, flag football, etc.!”
The Mayor’s Summer Night Lights program has been in full swing since the beginning of June, with multiple weeks of basketball tournaments at the Kleeman Center. However, Tournament Coordinator, Eric Purvis knows the upcoming tournament has far more implications than those of previous weeks.
“In today’s news all we read about is how law enforcement and the community are just not mixing for any type of common goal, but with our Bridging the Gap event we are going to show that our community and law enforcement can come together on the same team with the same common goal to eliminate crime and take back our streets to win back the hearts of our children, because they are our future.” Purvis says.
A Fun Time to Be Had by All
Not only will CPD Officers be involved with the basketball side of Summer Night Lights, but officers will be onsite to enjoy the other festivities featured within the program at the Kleeman Center and Summit Heights locations. Free swimming will be available to program goers from 6 to 8 p.m. at New Providence Pool, located directly behind the Kleeman Center, on Monday the 20th as well as a whole host of games, activities, inflatables, and face painting. Manna Café Ministries will also provide a meal free of charge.