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

DATE: SATURDAY, May 12, 1990                   TAG: 9005120404
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHATTANOOGA, TENN.                                LENGTH: Short

RICHMOND CONSIDERED FOR URBAN PARK PROJECT

The U.S. Park Service is considering four cities, including Richmond, as candidates for a two-year pilot project to develop a unique urban park system.

The Park Service wants a metropolitan area to demonstrate ways to protect natural lands and waterways in cities faced with population and commercial growth.

"The first city we select is so critical so we can have a place to show a good success," said John Kelly, outdoor recreation planner for the park service. "Whatever city we select will be given some national attention."

A 1987 report by the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors detailed dwindling opportunities of finding open spaces to keep for public use and predicted that 80 percent of Americans will live in cities by the year 2000.

A field of 15 cities was narrowed to four: Chattanooga, Philadelphia, Richmond and Indianapolis. A decision is expected by mid-June.

The first city chosen will get help from the Park Service in planning a network of river and trail corridors, parks and open spaces to provide close-to-home recreation areas for city dwellers. The chain of natural areas would include some in adjacent counties.

- Associated Press

by CNB