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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004180671
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

`GREENWAY' PROPOSED ALONG ROANOKE RIVER

Eddy said he's "not an expert Eddy on the subject, . . . but maybe I can get something going."

Much of the land along the river in the cities of Roanoke and Salem has been developed. But there still are scenic, undeveloped stretches along the river in the county, he said.

As Eddy envisions it, land along the river could be designated as a "greenway." Construction would be prohibited or restricted in the greenway. Instead, the land would be used for fishing and recreation, with hiking and horseback-riding trails and bicycle paths.

The county could either buy the land or ask the owners to allow it to be used by the public, he said.

The greenway would include land outside the flood plain, where construction already is prohibited, he said.

The idea of a greenway along the Roanoke River is not new. It has been suggested by backers of the Explore project. The city of Roanoke is taking steps to preserve land along the river in its proposed flood-reduction project, which is to include construction of parks and a 4.6-mile bicycling and jogging trail along the river.