The swimming beach at Clark Center Park. (Photos courtesy Cindy McCullough)
City officials could consider taking over Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge, City Manager Mark Watson said Sunday.
It could be an alternative to letting the U.S. Department of Energy turn over the popular swimming, boating, picnicking, and fishing destination to the federal General Services Administration, which could, in turn, dispose of it, Watson said.
The 80-acre park—which includes a softball field, boat ramp, swimming beach, restrooms, and picnic areas—is a major cost to DOE, Watson said. And running a park is not really part of the department’s mission.
“They’re facing continuing budgetary shortfalls, and they’re going to have to do something with the park,†Watson said.
It’s part of a discussion that dates back to at least 1993, Watson said.
“This time, it looks like it’s moving in a different direction,†he said. “It’s moving toward GSA.â€
A view of the recreation area at Clark Center Park.
The park and its facilities could be given to the city. But before that happens, Watson said, he wants the community to be able to weigh in and answer such questions as: Does the city want to take the park and its facilities, and what would Oak Ridge do with them?
“We need to make an important community decision as to whether it stays and we do something with it,†Watson said.
He said the discussion between the city and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office is still strategic, and a timeframe has not been worked out.
“We need to discuss it and have the council tell me some of the things that they need,†Watson said.
The Oak Ridge City Council will discuss the proposal during a non-voting work session at 7 p.m. today.
Watson declined to say how much it costs DOE to operate the park, saying those numbers should come from the department. But he said the city could run it for less money.
“But the question comes: Do we have the money?” Watson said.
The entrance to Gallaher Bend Greenway is at the western end of Clark Center Park.
The debate over the future of the park bears at least some resemblance to discussions over the future of the American Museum of Science and Energy in central Oak Ridge. DOE has been told that running a museum is not part of its mission. The City of Oak Ridge and AMSE Foundation have started a series of four community meetings to discuss the future of the museum; the first meeting was Thursday. Oak Ridge National Laboratory currently manages AMSE for DOE and contributes, along with other major DOE contractors in Oak Ridge, to its operating costs.
Clark Center Park is also sometimes referred to as Carbide Park after Union Carbide, a former managing contractor for the federal government in Oak Ridge.
It’s not clear how the future of the park could affect access to the Gallaher Bend Greenway, which begins at the far end of the park.
Tonight’s City Council work session is in the Central Services Complex at 100 Woodbury Lane. You can see the agenda here.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Mark Harvey says
I have always thought that would be a nice spot for a camp ground that could attract summer/fall travelers to spend a few days/weeks in the Secret City. Maybe a ground lease to a camp ground developer could be a viable solution for the currently under-utilized park.
David Allred says
Any move the city makes on the park should consider the resources of the community also. So much expense could be saved by establishing community ownership of the park as opposed to strict government ownership — be that city or federal.
By this, I simply mean that if it matters at all to residents then residents should be asked to help maintain the park in ways that trump taxation. Establishing groups of naturalists, spiritualists, and non-profit teams which could compose a task force that keep the park clean, mowed, and free to all promotes and fosters community.
I would suggest a model that has been employed by the community at the Grove Theater. I would fully acknowledge that the ride hasn’t been without its bumps in the road. But I look desperately for a government system that places the onus of real community “perks” back into the hands of the people.
Government was meant to work for the people and by the people. Too often we jump into these situations in which the “by the people” government is replaced by a government doing everything “for the people.”
If it’s worth anything at all to Oak Ridgers, then it is the citizens of Oak Ridge that should stand up for it. Protect its natural resources and create a sense of community ownership over a shared space. When ownership is lacking, abuse ensues creating headwaters of expense. When ownership is present, members work together to preserve and protect the places we hold dear.
If there isn’t enough ground swell of support, let it go. And let the people lament their lack of vision.
My two cents.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, David and Mark. Both interesting ideas. There was some brief discussion of putting a lodge, cabins, or campground out there during last night’s meeting, but this discussion is still in an early phase.
Philip W Nipper says
Here’s one for you John. Give it to TVA and let them take on the burden. They are pros at maintaining and controlling public recreation areas. I don’t think the City of Oak Ridge needs to get into the campground/public lake swimming/boating business. I feel that they are hard pressed with properly managing and maintaining what we currently have in the way of parks. Or another possible route to go would be to include the area as part of the future national park and let the National Park Service own it and manage it. How about them apples?
johnhuotari says
Also interesting. I haven’t heard any discussion of either of those two proposals. I don’t know if that’s something TVA or Congress/NPS might be interested in. But I think this is still fairly early in the discussion process.
David Allred says
The park means a great deal to me from a conservationist stand-point and as an angler / outdoorsmen. I appreciate you keeping us up to date and letting us know of any opportunities we might have to share our passions and our thoughts with the city.
My biggest frustration comes from the volumes of refuse that gets left on the shores and under the pavilions and in the playground which the DOE employees at the park graciously take care of for the citizens of our community. The lack of ownership, I believe, contributes to the mistreatment.
I see this concept most clearly every Sunday morning following the annual Christmas parade. It is the most heart-breaking day of the year for me, simply because my drive to church is met with a metric ton of fast food bags, empty water bottles, and other litter lining our turnpike. The freedom people feel to litter in the dark is tied directly to the fact that they aren’t required to do anything for the parade. They take a consumer mentality to the street and leave it laying there the morning after. They’d treat a city managed park no differently imho… at least not without buy-in and co-creation / participation in the land deal.
Jason Allison says
For the love of everything holy…….we HAVE to keep it in the community