In the spring of 1995 these citizens persuaded the four
local governments to appoint representatives to a Greenways/Open Space Steering
Committee. This Steering Committee began by taking field trips to North
Carolina and Tennessee to see other communities' efforts. Convinced that
a greenway plan was needed, they persuaded the localities to fund services
of a professional greenway planner.
The summer of 1995 was a busy one as the Steering Committee,
assisted by Greenways, Inc. from Cary, N.C., moved to involve the public
in greenway planning. A luncheon for 100 elected officials and civic leaders
and three public workshops with over 200 people convinced administrators
that support for greenways was growing. Using public input on routes and
priorities, Greenways, Inc. completed the Conceptual Greenway Plan for the
Roanoke Valley in December 1995.
In January of 1996 the Steering Committee began implementation
of the Plan's recommendations by selecting a pilot project. An application
for funding under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA)
was filed for Mill Mountain Greenway, a cross-jurisdictional route from
Roanoke City market to rural Explore Park. The Committee also convinced
the four jurisdictions to fund a staff position to assist with greenway
efforts around the Valley. In August 1996 a greenway coordinator began work
out of the regional Fifth Planning District Commission office.
The Greenways Steering Committee, originally appointed
for one year, initiated organization of several groups to carry on the greenway
effort. The Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission was established by the signing
of an Intergovernmental Agreement on Earth Day, April 19, 1997. The Greenway
Commission is an advisory body with appointed citizen and staff representatives
from each of the four Valley jurisdictions. The Commission's role is to
facilitate coordinated planning, development, and maintenance of the greenway
network.
A second group for citizens, called Pathfinders for Greenways, was incorporated to be a nonprofit, volunteer organization to assist with construction, maintenance, and fund raising. In addition, the newly formed Western Virginia Land Trust made greenway protection one of its priorities. These three groups work with the four local governments, which retain responsibility for oversight of construction and management within their jurisdictions.