CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Burchwood Park in Clarksville will be renamed in honor of local United States Army veteran Sidney R. Brown. The renaming will take place at a ceremony at noon Saturday.
The renaming was approved by the city council and sponsored by Councilman Richard Garrett. Burchwood Park will now be called "CSM Sidney R. Brown Park at Burchwood."
85-year-old Brown, a retired command sergeant major, is expected to attend the ceremony, despite battling cancer. Brown's son, Ronald Brown, will speak. The ceremony will also include the presentation of the proclamation for the park's renaming.
Burchwood Park, found at 2608 Burch Street, has a special significance for Brown. Brown was part of Club 25, a group of African-American veterans from the Burchwood neighborhood.
Club 25 bought the site at Burchwood Park over four decades ago, developing it and maintaining it as a park for neighborhood children.
The park was later taken in as part of the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department under Mayor Ted Crozier.
Brown was born in Birmingham, Ala. in 1931. He joined the army in August of 1950. In 1957, he deployed with the 101st Airborne Division during the desegregation battle at Little Rock Central High School. He also deployed to Vietnam in 1965, while other assignments include a second Vietnam tour, as well as two tours in Germany and two in Korea.
Brown retired after 30 years, and enrolled at Austin Peay State University. He graduated from there in 1985 before going on to serve on the Montgomery County Commission.
Brown has also served with Habitat for Humanity, Community Action Agency, Tennessee Commission on Aging, Fort Campbell Historical Foundation and the Tennessee-Kentucky Chapter of the Association of the United States Army.
Austin Peay's Military Alumni chapter created the Sidney Brown Scholarship Endowment, which benefits active duty military, veteran students, their spouses and children, and APSU ROTC cadets.
The city council resolution to rename Burchwood Park was approved unanimously on October 3.
