The Clarksville community gears up for a new chapter as the city finalizes the purchase of the Clarksville Speedway for a development project that will no doubt alter the local landscape. In an agreement valued at $7 million, the 83-acre speedway property is set to become the future Hazelwood Recreation Complex, providing numerous amenities, including gym space and an aquatic center, WKRN reports.
Plans for the expansive recreation complex extend to a multi-purpose path connecting to Billy Dunlop Park, and the upgrade of Needmore Road to a five-lane route complete with a bike path — a projected cost saver in line with the city's master transportation plan. The deal also allows Clarksville Speedway to continue operations through 2025, ensuring the continuity of its event schedule, including the popular Christmas lights display, while they search for a new location, Clarksville Now emphasizes.
In sync with the community's needs, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts is focusing on public engagement to fine-tune the complex's offerings. "What do they want to see inside the rec complex?” Pitts posed, signaling the city's intention to tailor the development to citizen desires, as he told WKRN.
Engagement details aside, the acquisition of the speedway is an intersection of past and future city objectives. Consolidating this purchase with the Needmore Road upgrade not only addresses infrastructure but also embraces opportunities for enhanced quality of life. "When he came back in early Fall of 2023, we were ready to move forward with discussions,” Pitts recounted regarding initial communications with the speedway owner, a signal of the project's deep roots and considered timing, recounted by Clarksville Online.
Finally, with dedicated funding from the City Council and a synergistic approach to the land use, this new center aims to mend a historical void in the northern sector of Clarksville. The Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department echoes the sentiment, with Director Jennifer Letourneau stating, "Our citizens have told us that they want indoor aquatics and another Recreation Center to serve this area, and this gives us the opportunity to provide both, and much more,” as she told Clarksville Online.
