This year the parade theme is “Honoring all who served,” a tribute to veterans past and present. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the corner of N. Eighth and College Streets, next to the Sundquist Science Building at Austin Peay State University, with the reviewing stand at Public Square in front of City Hall. The deadline for parade entries is Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Entry forms and maps of the parade route can be obtained from the Veterans Service Organization in Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 308, Clarksville.

A Veterans Day breakfast, 7:30 a.m. at the Morgan University Center at APSU, will kick off the day’s celebration.

For more information, contact the Veterans Service Organization at 553-7173.

This photo of the new "Strawberry Alley" only hints at the true glaring brightness of the new lightning on this reconstructed downtown street.

The $1.2 million price tag in the contract for the Legion Street/Strawberry Alley work included $75,000 for a fountain, $27,000 short of this one-of-a-kind fountain’s actual cost. The difference in the fountain cost plus installation expenses will be made up from a $250,000 “contigency line item” in the contract with Roy T. Goodwin. The original designated maximum price allocated for the fountain has fallen by the wayside.

The Purchasing Department received bids ranging from $38,000 to 138,000, but the rejected all of those bids, noting none of the proposed fountains were “unique” enough for Clarksville. The chosen multi-tiered Bronze and marble fountain and its statuary will “appeal to children.”

Over the last several months, Legion Street has been rebuilt, and now has wider bricked sidewalks, new landscaping, new street lighting and underground power lines the length of the street. The intent to refurbish the street is good; it fairs less well aesthetically.

The new lighting is the installation of double-lamp fixtures like the current lighting on Public Square. The double lamps line both sides of the street and are very closely spaced; to walk along the Strawberry Alley at night requires sunglasses to ease the glare. Planners used double lamp posts on both sides of the street when in fact a single lantern fixture on both sites would have sufficed. The clean line of Strawberry Alley is fragmented with the irregular placement of several of these lampposts, created a jarring, jumbled effect. Add to the mix an oversized vintage style clock that gets lost among the lamp posts.

Clarksville Online has learned that approximately ten of the new Strawberry Alley lamp posts that are “overkill” on that street may be moved to another street, but no discussion has been held on just who pays to correct that “error” in design judgment. May we assume that the “contigency” funds for this project, or an emergency “budget adjustment” will be used to correct this error in design?

The new look of the street itself is still mitigated by the deteriorating appearance of the existing buildings on this portion of the former Legion Street. Tangled wires, old electrical boxes, piping and older facades still line the street, which regardless of the new look is still a loading zone for businesses that, for customer service, open onto Franklin Street. Strawberry Alley is where many large trucks park to unload deliveries to local stores and restaurants.

The availability of handicapped parking spaces on Legion Street and Strawberry Alley also remains a question. At present, disabled patrons of Franklin and Legion Streets and Strawberry Alley have no designated parking except on the river side of City Hall. Handicapped placards can be used in any parking space, but without a designated space or two, most disabled drivers remain hard pressed to park to close to restaurants and stores they wish to use.

Composite photos of the Strawberry Alley project are just that: composite: the lighting fixtures and forthcoming fountain are not revealed, and one of the parked vehicles is shown angled the wrong way on what is now a now one way street. While a photo-shopped design plan for the street shows attractive refurbished architecture and signage, how that will achieved and at what cost to individual business owners is unclear. For a number of Franklin Street businesses, Strawberry Alley is their back door, their service entrance, their loading zone, not a user-friendly customer entrance.

Before I receive comments on what may seem to be my perpetual criticism of downtown projects, let me state (1) that I have studied urban planning and sustainable eco-friendly development for years.; (2) I have served on three “Future Search” commissions (the first for an APSU sized state college, the second for a private college, and the third for a major northeastern city) to determine their direction and strategic planning; and (3) I just plain love downtown districts and Main Street developments. A vibrant downtown is key issue in urban development. That said, I also expect to know the whole package at the beginning, ALL of the details, not just a selected few, not a piecemeal patch job of projects but an overall view.

Who is re-designing downtown? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see, for example, that there were far too many lamp posts on Strawberry Alley. What other errors, large or small, may emerge? In addressing a project like this Legion Street/Strawberry Alley makeover, the city and the developers need to address more than the kind of sidewalks they are installing; they need to address everything on the street, out loud and up front to the taxpayers and business people who are footing the bill.

Redevelopment can recharge old business, attract new business, spur tourism and bolster the economy, but it should not be parceled out piecemeal with the tax paying public footing a vague, undefined spend-as-we-go bill. Redevelopment requires a site specific plan including cost and impact statements that affect every resident, business and property owner in the specified district. That specificity comes with its “i’s” dotted and “t’s” crossed. No one has said what will happen to the backs of the buildings that now look more shoddy and unkempt than before the street upgrade. How much of a bill will be dumped on individual property owners to upgrade in this lagging economy? Can the city use grant funds to mitigate that impact?

The Clarksville City Council with Mayor Piper discussing CPRC claims of city administration misdeeds

It is hoped that when the re-opening is held, city officials will announced some type of “Main Street” grant to assist assist existing businesses with facade improvements and new signage on the backs of their buildings. It is also hoped that city officials at this opening will announce in painstaking detail exactly what business interests and development plans are underway and on the drawing boards to follow this $1.2 million dollar Strawberry Alley redo. Who gets to keep their buildings and businesses, and who will be bought out or “eminent domain’ed” in the interest of “redevelopment?” True above board, community friendly development has no problem in either making or disclosing the “complete” plan for any redevelopment area, including potential buyouts of existing property and the disclosure of what said properties would then be used for. Facts, in writing, can help dispel skepticism and quell mistrust.

As for Strawberry Alley, here’s the history: In the 1920’s in Downtown Clarksville, the area from Public Square to Second Street known as Strawberry Alley was widened and extended to Third Street as well as renamed Legion Street in honor of World War I veterans. Strawberry Alley had been so named in honor of Mrs. Lucinda Elder, wife of Clarksville’s first Mayor James Elder, because the street was constructed across her strawberry patch. The Clarksville City Council approved by a majority vote in August to rename the portion of the road from Public Square to Second Street as Strawberry Alley to preserve the past, and the portion from Second Street to Third Street to remain named Legion Street to continue honoring World War I veterans.

The Grand Re-Opening Celebration includes a ceremony commemorating the re-designations of Legion Street and Strawberry Alley. The official ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. and includes a wreath laying to commemorate the designation of Legion Street as a tribute to World War I veterans. The ceremony will also focus on the past, present, and future of both Legion Street and Strawberry Alley. The celebration includes live performances by Bump City, outdoor dining with area restaurants, balloons, face painting, chocolate dipped strawberries, and more. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 645-7444.

Public Square's new fountain offers a cooling place on a hot summer day

For those who may not have visited Public Square of late, take note! There’s a new addition to ‘The Square’ and it brings added beauty and charm to the vaunted strip of real estate. Plus it has soothing sounds and is well lit at night. Courtesy of Farmers and Merchants Bank, otherwise known as F&M Bank, the City of Clarksville now has a brand new sparkling decorative water fountain gracing Public Square.

These few pictures illustrate the installation and dramatic day and nighttime effect of this new addition to the city’s art real estate inventory. According to a city council representative, this latest acquisition came at no cost to the citizenry. We wish to give F&M Bank, “Three Cheers!” for this demonstration of corporate generosity and community spirit.
These few pictures illustrate the installation and dramatic day and nighttime effect of this new addition to the city’s art real estate inventory. According to a city council representative, this latest acquisition came at no cost to the citizenry. We wish to give F&M Bank, “Three Cheers!” for this demonstration of corporate generosity and community spirit.

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As the Independence Day weekend moves on, the smoke from fireworks has dissipated and the residue from our recent fireworks show have been cleared away. The traffic jams cleared up, and we each go on our merry way. Yes, the city’s celebration was quite a sight. And as noted in previous coverage here, the Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire Eternal Flame Memorial was burning bright and strong at 11:30PM on July 3rd. The flags at City Hall were still sadly un-illuminated but the eternal flame did shine for that night. Hallelujah!!!

Alas, it was too good to last. It was not burning during the daylight hours on our nation’s birthday, and when the evening of July 4th dawned upon us the flame was still NOWHERE TO BE SEEN. It was AWOL again! We took date stamped photographs to verify this.

Are our public officials really committed to keeping our pledge to light the flame, and in doing so honoring our fallen military personnel? Or is this just a “showpiece” there only to be utilized during special promotions and city events?

The Eternal Flame was kept lit for the entire run of ‘Rivers and Spires.” Every day and night it was there. But the flame ceased burning a mere three days following the close of that festival. It stayed that way until two weeks before Memorial Day.

But strangely the flame was once again unlit for the entire Memorial Day weekend. As the Vietnam Veterans Association held their candlelight vigil on Public Square that Sunday, the absence of that flame was conspicuously felt as the names of Tennessee’s MIA were called off. Apparently their sacrifice did not warrant the flame. It was only veterans and MIA service members, after all.

All of last week, workmen were busy installing a new eight or new nine foot diameter water fountain on Public Square. (This is not the fountain that is still planned for location on Legion street). It became functional last Thursday. Thursday night the water was freely flowing, and the interior lights were shining brightly. It is admittedly a lovely sight. Too bad the Eternal Flame couldn’t have been blessed with the same good fortune. It has remained unremarked in the darkness at the other end of Public Square. while the fountain has remained fully functional every day and night since it was turned on.

Recent coverage on Clarksville Online has highlighted the glaring failure of many local government and business entities to properly illuminate our national flag during the hours of darkness. Once again our own City Hall is in violation with two towering flag poles, front and rear, each over thirty feet tall. Neither of which are properly illuminated at night. Perhaps there is a pattern at work here; one of a blatant disregard for our nation’s flag, and for a memorial honoring our serving soldier’s and military fallen.

Despite all our public officials pretty speeches and their placing big yellow ribbons on the sides of our city’s buildings, could it be that deep inside we really just don’t care? Maybe Clarksville’s true claim to the title of “Tennessee’s Top Spot” is for our elected officials disrespect for our nation and the sacrifice of it’s soldiers. You be the judge.

We at Clarksville Online have tried over and over again to get our elected officials to do something about keeping the flame lit, with no luck. If each of you take a moment to email or call our elected officials and tell them to light the flame, and keep it lit! Perhaps at long last they will get the message! Light the flame already! Because if not we will hold them to account the next time they are up for re-election!

Lighting a flame is just too much to ask. Even during Memorial Day Weekend, the flame is out. Yet “We support the troops!” claims and stickers are everywhere. Who’s foolin’ who?

Yet another national observance dedicated to honoring the nation’s debt to its military forces, past and present, is upon us. Flags are flapping in the wind. Boy Scout Troops are preparing to descend upon various cemeteries to place small flags at veterans graves. Politicians gear up to make patriotic oratory praising America’s military forces and the noble sacrifices made by them and their families, past and present. Even the president has reminded us to remember the veterans as we celebrate this weekend. All of these annual gestures of reverence are expected and applauded

But there is an affront to all this staged posturing in our community. For quite some time now, Clarksville has been playing footloose and cheap with its symbolic gesture to military honor and sacrifice- the eternal flame on Public Square. The flame has been unlit for most of this year. Citizen inquiries have resulted in a myriad of replies, to include being told that, “Surely, the wind must have just blown it out!”

The city made a commitment when that memorial was erected. Eternal Flames are meant to be just that- burning for all time, at all times, eternal. Such is not the case with Clarksville’s Eternal Flame. As of Saturday night, the flame was unlit. Unlit on Memorial Day Weekend and our Fort Campbell forces suffering injuries and death this very week!

The flame was lit during Rivers & Spires, but is off again. This Bill Larson Photo shows what the flame is supposed to look like at all time.

There were supposed to have been provisions taken to procure the necessary fuel for the flame’s endurance. The city had, at one time, a natural gas purchasing team in place to pursue favorable long-term gas purchase contracts on the city’s behalf. This structure fell victim to apparent political machinations and was dissolved. However nothing was put in its place and Our Flame Has Been and Remains UNLIT! OUR WORD, OUR SOLEMN PROMISE FALLS EMPTY, BROKEN.

The dead can’t break their promise, they can’t withdraw their sacrifice. The living have an obligation to those dead. A serious effort to fulfill it should be established and soon. After all, more soldiers die everyday in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Is a flame really so much to ask?