Ground Has Been Broken for the Clarksville Marina District:

Article from Clarksville Online... It started as an idea back in 1978. Now roughly 30 years later, the construction of the Clarksville Marina is underway. The ground breaking ceremony was held at the Fairgrounds Park, to a standing room only crowd.

Jim Durrett introduced Mayor Johnny Piper to a round of applause . Mayor Piper thanked all of the individuals who served on committees over the years that worked on the project, and helped bring it to a reality. Mayor Piper stated, “It is a testament to those that are in this city who commit to a project knowing that it’s the best for the city, and that it needs to be done, and that they stayed focused to be able to get it done.”

Bruce Lundy spoke for J.J.R. Consultants, the design firm for the Marina project. Greg Batts, the private developer for the project also said a few words about the marina and the plans for redeveloping the area. Batts said “This is not just going to be a marina. This is not going to be just a place for someone with a boat, to park a boat. We are dedicated to making this a destination that people will want to come and spend lots of time at.”

The development will also include walking trails, playgrounds, ballfields, hiking, an larger dog park, amphitheater and an expanded pond for fishing and paddle boats. Long term plans also include restaurants and shops. This represents one giant step for Clarksville Tennessee,” said Mayor Piper.

Marina huge for city
Marina project formally under way as community momentum builds

Leaf Chronicle Article...
Mayor Johnny Piper summed it up well: Clarksville took "one giant step", formally breaking ground on a $32 million marina and Fairgrounds Park improvement project.

Piper told a group of about 150 people gathered for the ceremony that cities formed on rivers go back to rivers, and Clarksville is joining cities all over the country who are returning to their roots and taking advantage of their natural river resources.

Piper, who has championed the project, said he was fortunate and honored to be mayor on the day when construction actually began on the marina, which had been envisioned on the site for more than three decades. He thanked City Council members, past and present, for voting to support the project, and he heaped praise on the River District Commission and the Marina Committee for their work on the project.

He acknowledged that some residents have questioned the cost and need for such a project, and then added a prediction.

"When you propose a major project, a lot of people can't see the vision and they can't understand the commitment behind it," Piper said. "But I believe a year from today you're going to find very few people who did not support this, because it's such a major commitment by this city."

The biggest reason to undertake this ambitious project is to improve the quality of life of those who live here in Clarksville by offering more recreational amenities and by making our city a more attractive and vibrant place to live, work and play. In addition to the marina, the project will include restaurants, shops, an arboretum and observation deck overlooking the river; renovation of the sports fields, a dog park and an expanded fish pond; an amphitheater, a new arena and a new pavilion. The park will be connected to an expanded McGregor Park RiverWalk.

The marina itself will provide a needed and a convenient spot where boat owners can keep their crafts locally. After completion, money now spent at marinas elsewhere can be kept in Clarksville.

The new marina and related improvements also will create a destination for tourists. A marina, where boaters could stop for a refueling and tie up for the night, eat at a restaurant and buy supplies would bring visitors and their spending power to the city.

The marina is an amenity that Clarksville has needed for a long time. It's good to see that it's finally going to be built. It only adds to the momentum building in our community, fueled by other major projects, such as the $1.2 billion Hemlock Semiconductor plant and the related new $6.2 million engineering training center at Austin Peay State University.

Piper, the City Council and community leaders deserve credit for pushing ahead with the marina, shaping a vision, and carrying out this giant step for a better Clarksville.