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

DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990                   TAG: 9006190362
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: C2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MILL MOUNTAIN PARK DOESN'T NEED BUILDINGS

J.B. FISHBURN gave us Mill Mountain for a park and recreation. We need to be good stewards. We need to make sure our mountain remains as a park: a large area known for its natural scenery and preserved for public use by a government.

Few know that Mill Mountain Park is being studied by a group to tell us how to develop it. The cost of the study is $35,000. There will be plans for buildings. Suggestions already include a lodge, restaurant, tram and war memorial with a museum.

I feel that any one of these will disrupt the pure beauty of Mill Mountain Park and affect its environment. The mountain is part of the watershed for Crystal Spring that feeds into the city system.

The attractions of Mill Mountain Park are the awe of the view, the zoo, and the quietness and beauty of the wildflower garden. The area lends itself to picnics where families enjoy being near nature and smelling the hot sun or pine needles.

People create their own entertainment in a park. Roanoke doesn't need to provide a restaurant. A park should be for all people, and all people cannot afford to eat in a restaurant. Entertainment can be found elsewhere.

Our culture needs to be aware of places where people can enjoy the quiet, watch bluebirds, listen to wood thrushes, hear the wind, read a book and enjoy the view. Visit our mountain. See if you can find the mystical beauty. See if your heart tells you that we need to develop our mountain with buildings in what is supposed to be - a park.

\ BETTY FIELD\ ROANOKE

by CNB