Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 3, 1995 TAG: 9505030040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Noting that Roanoke County and Salem don't plan to spend any money soon on linear parks, City Council on Tuesday put off budgeting additional funds for greenways in Roanoke, a decision one proponent of the linear parks called "a cop-out."
Instead, council will wait to hear any proposals that come from a Fifth Planning District Commission study of a regional greenways system.
"You're the only local government to make a direct appropriation," City Manager Bob Herbert told council members, who have budgeted - but not spent - money for greenways.
"The other governments are going to decide how seriously they want to pursue that. They're making some progress but they haven't put any money into it," Herbert added. "I believe council has done more than it needs to do and more than anyone else has done."
Mayor David Bowers had referred the greenways issue to budget study. But even he seemed chagrined to learn that the county and Salem haven't budgeted money for linear parks.
"In the spirit of regionalism, I think we should delay any action on this at this time," Bowers told council.
"We're the only government who's stepped forward and put money into greenways," Bowers said when he revisited the subject in the afternoon. "Oh, everybody's in favor of greenways," he added in a mocking tone.
The drum in a grass-roots greenways movement began beating last fall, with pitches from a loosely organized coalition that supports efforts to establish public hiking-biking trails that are linked. Such trails are known as greenways.
The linear parks have been developed successfully in areas of Tennessee, North Carolina and other states.
Council's action disappointed a leading greenways proponent.
"I thought council would move forward in this budget year. I'm disappointed that Roanoke city's not taking a leadership role," said Bob Fetzer, a builder who asked council for funding last year.
"I think it's a cop-out to say that Roanoke County and Salem haven't put any money in when one of the issues in Roanoke has been quality of life and attracting high-end housing," he said.
The coalition's efforts have been endorsed in concept by the city, county and Salem. But beyond $31,000 set aside (but so far unspent) by Roanoke last summer, no money has been budgeted on greenways.
Brent Robertson, budget manager for the county, said the Board of Supervisors may partially fund a greenways consultant the Fifth Planning District Commission wants to hire for its study.
by CNB