Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 21, 1994 TAG: 9401210088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The request also suggests that, for now at least, Explore boosters are backing away from a proposal to merge the park with the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville.
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, has submitted an amendment to the state budget in his chamber for the money. Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, is asking for the money in the Senate.
Rupert Cutler, Explore's director, spent several days in Richmond this week lobbying.
"We are looking for public support for operations and private donations for development," Cutler said. "I'm not sure anyone expected the Explore Park to be financially self-sufficient."
In fact, Explore's founders - the River Foundation - hopes to stop funding operations this June and concentrate its efforts on raising money to help build attractions at the park.
Cranwell said he is hopeful the money can be found to help the park during its first two years of operations. Explore, located in eastern Roanoke County, is set to open in May with several living-history exhibits re-enacting life on the Appalachain frontier, and walking and horseback trails.
Joining Cranwell in the request for money in the House budget are Dels. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum and Victor Thomas, both D-Roanoke.
Thomas, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, warned Thursday, however, that the two-year budget is tight and "it'll be tough" to find extra money for special projects.
The state put up $6 million in the late 1980s to help acquire the site for Explore.
This is the first time Cranwell has made a formal push for state funding since then.
Cutler called the budget request "our No. 1 priority" for the year, suggesting that he and other backers of Explore are no longer counting on efforts to unite the park with the expansion of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
That plan roused a firestorm of opposition from Martinsville-area legislators, especially after it came to light several weeks ago that Bell and Cranwell had discussed the idea with officials from both attractions. Bell plans to propose a legislative study of the idea.
Pushing the merger "muddies the waters" for the budget requests, said Cutler, who suspects a merger plan is dead for the near future.
Cranwell agreed. "I'm trying not to think about it," he said. Cranwell said the public discussion of the merger was poorly timed and poorly handled.
"It's become so politicized now, that I doubt very much if [the study resolution] is going to get out of the Senate," he said.
by CNB