Allen gets permanent place of honor

For more than 32 years, Clark Allen guided the operations of Poplar Bluff’s Parks and Recreation Department, enhancing existing parks, opening new ones and developing a trail system throughout the city, among other achievements.

On Monday, Allen’s contributions to the city were recognized during the unveiling of a plaque in his honor.

“He’s well deserving of this,” said Lanny Corcimiglia, who took over as Parks and Recreation Department director when Allen retired in July.

Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department Director Lanny Corcimiglia (right) presents retired director Clark Allen with a metal-plate commemorative copy of his retirement article from the Daily American Republic during Monday’s ceremony. DAR/Paul Davis

The plaque, Corcimiglia said, was “strategically placed between the walking trail at McLane Park and the trail that connects to the rest of the town,” an ode to one of Allen’s favorite pastimes, running, and one of his most ambitious projects, the city’s trail system.

Park board member John Scott agreed, saying “This monument along the trail at McLane Park is fitting because so many people run here and Clark is a good mentor for those who run.”

Reflecting on Allen’s 32 years as director, Scott said, “Clark has done an excellent job with his overall vision for the city and community as a whole, and that is to integrate the park system in the entire community.”

Retired Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department Director Clark Allen speaks Monday during a ceremony and plaque dedication recognizing his achievements over his 32-year career. DAR/Paul Davis

Allen, Scott noted, never really sought accolades for his accomplishments, “so this was really nice to be able to do something for him.”

Always humble, Allen was grateful to be recognized.

“I appreciate the honor. I value the board and my staff for giving it,” he said. “It’s wonderful that they think so highly of me to want to do that.”

Parks and Recreation Department board member John Scott speaks Monday before the unveiling of a plaque recognizing retired director Clark Allen during a ceremony at McLane Park. DAR/Paul Davis

Speaking to those on hand during Monday’s ceremony at McLane Park, Allen noted while he was in the director’s position, it was the work of many people who made things happen.

“I want everyone to know these things just didn’t happen. They happened because there are whole groups of people and agencies and associations that came together to make them work out. It’s not just a single person,” he said.

Allen expressed appreciation to the city council, city manager, utility and street departments, along with MoDOT, the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission and others, and especially the park board and department staff.

“They are as much responsible for this as anyone,” he stressed.

Over the years, the Parks and Recreation Department, Scott said, has “been able to do a lot of things without a lot of controversy. Clark was always fiscally responsible and maintained a healthy budget, and because of his vision and leadership, we’ve been able to do things without having to struggle.”

Every project has its hurdles and struggles, Allen said, “but by and large, I’ve been so blessed.”

Support from the community, Allen said, also has been key to the department’s success over the years.

“When you start something new like a trail system when a community hasn’t had a trail system before, that’s not an easy thing,” he said. “We had so many people that, when we explained what we were doing and talked to them about the value this was going to be, they also bought in.”

During his long tenure as director, Allen oversaw many new projects, but counts a few as favorites, including the new trail system, the downtown skate park and McLane Park.

“So many of them mean so much to me because I know they meant a lot to the user groups,” he said.

McLane Park, he said, is a perfect example.

“It’s for everyone. It’s about people using a facility like this, along with all our other facilities. People are looking for different types of recreation,” he said.

Looking back, Allen said, it’s the “really simple things that have probably impacted me the most ... the 5- or 6-year-old kids playing T-ball and seeing their moms and dads and aunts and uncles watching that child’s first move into sports.

“Or it’s seeing family reunions at Hendrickson Park or Whitely Park. They’re taking pictures and the children are playing on the playgrounds, and you recognize that all of our facilities are about creating memories. When it all comes down to the end, those are the things that are going to be important to us.”