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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, January 22, 1993                   TAG: 9301220203
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

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SHOPPERS GET PARKING TOKENS OF APPRECIATION

A program aimed at drawing more shoppers to downtown Blacksburg by giving them free parking tokens began this week.

Town officials have teamed up with the Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg and designed the program they are calling, "A Token of Our Appreciation."

Tokens, which fit in the parking meters' dime slot and purchase 24 minutes of parking, were designed for the program that started Tuesday.

Merchants participating in the program will purchase the tokens at a discounted rate and give them out to customers as an incentive to shop downtown, said Bonnie Svrcek, assistant town manager.

Jim Dymock, manager of Davidsons, said he has high hopes for the program.

"I certainly hope it will encourage shoppers and make them realize we want it to be convenient to shop downtown," he said.

Dymock already has purchased more than 500 tokens and plans to mail them to customers in the area.

Individuals wanting to purchase tokens can get them at the municipal building for $10.00 per 100 tokens. There isn't a discount for citizens, but buying the tokens could make downtown shopping more convenient, Svrcek said.

Members of the Downtown Merchants can purchase tokens every Tuesday at the Hobby Shop, 310 N. Main St. The tokens feature the Downtown Merchants logo on one side and the message "Shop Blacksburg" on the other side.

Merchants have complained for months that downtown parking meters discourage citizens from shopping downtown. The town installed new meters downtown in September 1991, mostly at the renovated Progress Street parking lot.

There are now about 370 meters downtown.

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