CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) To use a well known phrase from the movie Field of Dreams, “if you build it they will come,” and they certainly did. Many people came for the ribbon cutting Friday of the Rotary Field of Dreams ball field and and ADA compliant family playground at Civitan Park on Bellamy Lane.
The field and playground is part of funding for a 25-acre expansion of Civitan Park that was made available in 2017 for Montgomery County to help address overcrowding and to enhance the quality of life and well-being of special needs children and their families.
The three Rotary Clubs in the city, Clarksville Rotary, Sunrise Rotary and Sunset Rotary, also helped provide funding for the community service project, calling it The Rotary Field of Dreams. A grant was also provided by the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation.
Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett talked about the field and the playground. “This is something our community has needed for a long, long time, and without the Rotary Club, without the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation, I don’t think we’d be standing here today fixing to cut a ribbon on this field,”said Durrett.
Rotary International Governor, Bob Huffman, said the opening of the Rotary Field of Dreams demonstrates Rotary’s commitment to making our community a better place to live and thrive.
Margaret Davis with Progressive Directions Inc. and Buddy Ball Special Needs Athletic League said the field and playground is a 20-year dream come true and Clarksville has received a wonderful gift.
After the ribbon-cutting, athletes with Buddy Ball took to the field to play while other children enjoyed the playground.