Friends of Rotary Park

This is a service provided to the users of Rotary Park in Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee. It is hosted by Friends of Rotary Park, a newly formed volunteer group that is dilligently working to improve the trail network at the park. This site provides information about current, past, and future trail development.

About Me

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Rotary Park is a county-owned natural park in Clarksville, Montgomery County, Tennessee. It consists of two adjoining tracts of land that make up about 95 acres of mostly undeveloped, wooded land. There is one park entrance/exit that is paved and runs to the back of the park. There are three pavilions along the roadway with the largest being at the road's end. Rotary Park has an extensive trail network and is open to hikers and bikers. The new push for extensive trail work is necessary because most trails were improperly built by ATVs and motorcycles. Motorized vehicles are now banned from the park. Furthermore, the trails are showing signs of serious erosion. Most recently, a large amount of sustainable trail located outside of the park's boundary has been taken by development. The Friends of Rotary Park is dedicated to restoring and improving the park. Those interested in joining Friends of Rotary Park can do so by contacting Chris Clark at 931-801-3898. Dues are $25.00 for a family membership.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

News Article Discusses Rotary Park, Friends Group

Friends:

I hope everyone caught the latest news article on Rotary Park in The Leaf Chronicle. If not, click on the link below to read it.

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/NEWS01/604190316/1002

posted by Rotary Park | 9:22 AM | 1 comments

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Successful Workday




Wow. I don't know what to say. Saturday's workday went better than expected, and I had big expectations. We had a large turnout, great coffee and food, and a ton of work got done. We worked until noon, had a great lunch curtosy of Judith Tate and Suva Bastin, and then worked some more.

For those not there, here is the recap. We started off with a brief meeting. Before, during, and after the meeting, we consumed a plethora of Lasater's House Blend Coffee, got really wired on caffeine, and then went to work. During the meeting, we discussed our vision for the park and what it is going to take to make it happen.

The big news is that, aside from a few minor follow up tasks, re-route number four is complete. This is the section of trail immediately following the trailhead behind Pavilion 1. The old fall-line trail is long gone and the new, fully benched and properly drained trail is ready (the park is still closed). All trails re-routed by Friends of Rotary Park are connected now and make for the best sustainable trail in the park. This entire trail makes for the beginning and end of the developing perimeter loop. Further, this trail, when combined with a short section of existing trail, is the first loop to be cleared since the tornado in November 2005. Also, the old fall line trails that were previously re-routed have now been covered and are no longer usable. This is a good thing because it will help us reverse some of the effects of the erosion caused by those trails. Users should use the newly re-routed trails.

A huge thanks goes to everyone who came out and made this happen. I particularly want to thank County Parks Director Stacey Goodwin for taking time away from her husband and new baby to supervise and allow us into the park for this project. Had she not done this, we would not have been able to have this workday. Also, thanks to the Tennessee Trails Association for its support of Rotary Park and our friends group. See you on the trails.

Chris

posted by Rotary Park | 8:19 AM | 1 comments

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Lasater's Coffee and Tea to Donate Coffee/Bottled Water

Friends:
As you are all aware, we have a big workday this coming Saturday, April 15th. Mat Lasater of Lasater's Coffee and Tea has been gracious enough to donate lots of coffee and a case of bottled water for the big event. A special thanks is owed to Mat and his crew for their most generous donation. So next time you have a hankering for some joe, please visit Lasater's Coffee and Tea located at 589 South Riverside Drive and thank them for their support.

I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday. If at all possible, please be there at 8 or a little before because we will have a very short meeting to kick off the day. Don't foget your gloves and tools.
Chris Clark,
President - Friends of Rotary Park

posted by Rotary Park | 9:55 AM | 0 comments

Monday, April 03, 2006

Workday - April 15th

Dear Friends:

I am proud to announce that we have a workday scheduled for Saturday, April 15th at 8:00 a.m. at Rotary Park. This will be the first official workday since the tornado. Our agenda is as follows: re-route the trail through the TVA easement at the font of the park and close unauthorized/old trails. The reroute has already been cleared and is prepared for benching and stump removal. Everyone willing to swing a pick, pull a hoe, or tamp the trail tread will be asked to help with the benching of the new trail. This is a very labor-intensive project but will make for a smooth, scenic trail when completed. Everyone else will be asked to help close off old trails by completely covering them with branches, limbs, leaves, rocks, or whatever natural debris can be found to hide the old trail. With the establishment of the new, properly built trails, it is important that the old, erosion prone trails disappear. If people continue to use those trails, then the erosion problem will never be solved.

Also, since the tornado, people have been illegally using the park and making new, unauthorized trails around the damaged areas. These trails also need to be closed as they are not built to the proper standards and/or are not part of the master plan approved by the county. At least one of these trails exists in the area where we will be working. We will work on closing any of these trails found in the front, left-hand side of the park.

This promises to be a fun and productive workday. If you come, don't forget to bring gloves and plenty of water. If you have any picks, rakes, hoes, tampers, etc., please bring them as well. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Also, the projected date for the park to re-open has been pushed back to June. This is due to the extra time needed by the company hired by the county to properly clear the extensive damage caused by the tornado. I just can't wait for everyone to see the newly improved areas of the park upon it being reopened.

Thanks,

Chris

posted by Rotary Park | 8:34 AM | 1 comments