Retiring director of Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation honored

City and state officials came together Monday afternoon to recognize the contributions of retiring Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department Director Clark Allen.

Allen has a passion for his community and has led with a sense of humility and vision, speakers told a large crowd that gathered at the Black River Coliseum for the event.

“The citizens of Poplar Bluff have been most fortunate to have had a person of Clark Allen’s capabilities and dedication, and he has earned the admiration of those with whom he has come in contact,” said Poplar Bluff Mayor Robert Smith, before presenting a proclamation from city council members.

Allen is to be commended for his many years of valuable service to the city, Smith said.

Allen could have gone anywhere with his skills, but stayed in his hometown, state Rep. Jeff Shawan added later, presenting a resolution from the House of Representatives.

His remarkable leadership has stood out in the past 32 years, according to Shawan.

“Clark is genuinely humble,” Shawan said. “He’s always looking to give credit to someone else for anything and everything he accomplishes.”

His sense of humility is a big important part of Allen’s leadership qualities, Shawan continued.

“He’s had vision. He’s had determination. He’s done things for our park department that are going to live on long beyond his years,” Shawan said, adding that both Allen and his wife, Mary Ann Allen, are incredible partners for the community.

Allen thanked his family, park department workers and park department board members for their support over the years, as well as the residents who support the park department with sales tax dollars.

“It’s been something that has allowed us to do the facilities and the programs. We’ve done it slowly, we’ve built up, but again that’s not possible without the people,” he said.

Park department staff includes: Greg Riggs, recreation supervisor; Steve Lawson, maintenance supervisor; Jeremy Johnson, Carl Postin, Andy Dorris and Jody Segraves, maintenance; Murray Hammond, horticulturist; Bert Spradling, golf course superintendent; Jeff Bland, working foreman; David Campbell, maintenance mechanic; and Tim Stonecipher, aquatics supervisor.

While Allen’s retirement is official at the beginning of August, he will continue to work with the department in an advisory capacity to help the new director and to support special projects. That and time with family, including three children and five grandchildren, will fill his time.

Poplar Bluff native Lanny Corcimiglia has been hired as the new director and will begin Aug. 5.

Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation maintains 12 parks, a sports complex, multiple soccer and athletic fields, a skateboard plaza, 18-hole golf course, dog park, tennis courts, and an outdoor Olympic size pool with a diving well. The park system encompasses approximately 385 acres.