Description
The Roanoke River Greenway has always been considered the backbone of the regional greenway and trail network. This 30-mile bicycle/pedestrian path will be the major west-east greenway, making it possible to travel from western Roanoke County near Spring Hollow Reservoir through the City of Salem to the City of Roanoke, Town of Vinton, Blue Ridge Parkway and Explore Park. The greenway will provide linkages to neighborhoods, industrial facilities and business complexes, ten parks, three schools, two sport complexes, Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Montgomery and Franklin Counties. It will be a continuous route for non-motorized transportation where none currently exists. Connections to streets with bike lanes and to Masons Creek, Murray Run, Mill Mountain, Lick Run, Tinker Creek, and Wolf Creek greenways will permit travel north and south.

Status
Currently, five miles of Roanoke River Greenway are finished and open. One section is a half mile long near the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem. It was built in 2002 using private funds. A two and a half mile section is complete in the City of Roanoke, linking both Wasena and Smith Parks to the Rivers Edge Sports Complex and the Riverside Centre for Research and Technology. This was built using City monies and federal funds for the flood reduction project. Another two mile section is was finished in 2007 in the City of Roanoke from the Waste Water Treatment Plant to Hamilton Terrace.

A master plan for the western section of Roanoke River Greenway from Green Hill Park through Salem was completed in 1998; a plan for the City of Roanoke’s section was completed in 2000; and one for the eastern section in Roanoke County and Vinton was completed in 2003. No master plan has been completed for the western section from Green Hill Park to the Montgomery County line. Engineering for the section in Green Hill Park in western Roanoke County is complete, and construction began in 2008. In Salem engineering is 80% complete. Construction there should start in FY 08. In the City of Roanoke the greenway is being built in conjunction with the flood reduction project. The first five miles will be finished in 2008. Right-of-way acquisition for the upstream section should begin in 2007-08. No engineering or right-of-way work has been completed for the eastern section in Roanoke County.

Benefits
The Roanoke River Greenway has long been recognized in local, regional, and state plans as an important facility for the area. It is included in each locality’s comprehensive plan, the regional greenway and open space plans, and the Virginia Outdoors Plan. The Roanoke River Greenway is a multi-faceted project. All of the master plans include canoe launches, providing access to a river once used for bateau travel. The greenway plans also include historic and environmental interpretive signage, landscaping, mitigation of runoff into the river, and establishment of riparian buffers. This project will provide transportation, safety, health, environmental, and economic benefits to the valley, thus improving total quality of life in the region. The trail is often used for races and fundraising walks and runs. Greenways and trails in other areas have attracted significant tourism business, and the Roanoke River Greenway is expected to be a similar attraction.

Challenges
A big challenge in completion of Roanoke River Greenway is acquisition of rights-of-way. Local elected officials are reluctant to use condemnation, and approximately two-thirds of the corridor is in private ownership. There are two sections where the north and south side of the river are in different jurisdictions. Officials in the City of Roanoke are willing to justify the acquisition in conjunction with the flood reduction project and are moving forward with both the acquisition and design processes.

A second challenge is the proximity of the railroad to the river. In many places the rail bed drops straight into the river, and often there is a railroad track on both sides of the river. Crossing the tracks and being within the rail right-of-way are both safety concerns for Norfolk Southern. Further dialogue between the localities, the Greenway Commission and Norfolk Southern is needed. Other challenges include flooding and topography, such as cliffs.

Funding is a critical issue for the jurisdictions. While grants have been received every year, additional sources of revenue and innovative funding methods are needed.

Next Steps
For several years there have been suggestions that the Roanoke River be designated a blueway. The Draft 2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan recommends development of the Roanoke River Greenway and Canoe Trail. For approximately half the year the river through the Roanoke Valley has sufficient flow for floating as a water trail. Each of the localities has existing and planned facilities for canoers, kayakers, and fishermen.

Completion of the Roanoke River Greenway is strongly supported. The table below proposes a schedule needed to complete the greenway in the next five years. Each locality is responsible for finishing its section.

Proposed Schedule for Roanoke River Greenway Completion