ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 1, 1996 TAG: 9603010042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
A Mardi Gras-type festival closes Main Street. The School Board gains tax-levying powers. Town residents get financial assistance to learn about computers. The downtown parking problem is solved.
It's a dream, but it's the direction seniors at Blacksburg High School want their community to head in 10 years.
And the town is listening.
Members of Town Council, the Planning Commission, Mayor Roger Hedgepeth and Town Manager Ron Secrist gathered the seniors Thursday morning to hear about town problems - and solutions.
Councilman Mike Chandler said he doesn't usually get to hear from students, and this was a particularly important year to have their input.
This summer, council likely will vote on a completely revamped comprehensive plan, which will map out the town's vision for the next 50 years.
On Thursday, the students divided into small groups, with headings like "employment," "shopping," "recreation" and "social pressures." They listed what Blacksburg needs to be an ideal town, then suggested ways to make it happen.
One of the most common complaints that echoed through the high school's auditorium during the three-hour meeting was that there's nothing to do for kids under age 18.
"We need a place for us, not a recreation center that's opened one night a week for teens," said Sarah Williams "My parents worry - everywhere I want to go they say 'Oh, you're not old enough for that.'"
Williams was part of the social pressures group, led by Police Chief Bill Brown. That group recommended the town form a committee with students and parents to find a piece of land for a park where students were allowed to just "hang out."
Other suggestions included a dance club for teens and an improved bicycle trail system in town.
Assistant Town Manager Bonnie Svrcek said she planned to tap into all this energy. Svrcek, who works with the downtown merchants, said they wanted to plan several festivals each year, besides the summer Steppin' Out event.
"I'm so glad they mentioned the festival idea. Most of those small business owners don't have much time to organize those big events, so we could really use some help," she said.
Even at their young age, students know what drives the educational system: Money. One group came up with a dream goal that would "get more funding for education by empowering the elected School Board to levy taxes."
Another group worried that the popularity of the Blacksburg Electronic Village would leave people who can't afford computers behind. They recommended a downtown computer center and classes for everyone in the community.
The town needs to attract quality stores to fill vacancies in strip malls around Blacksburg, rather than build new malls, one group suggested. (The audience cheered at the other suggestion: "No Super Wal-Mart!")
Stephanie Houghton, a member of the shopping group, said she was impressed that town officials would come listen to the students.
"I'd just like to see what happens to it - if they really use what we say," she said.
Chandler said all the suggestions will be added to the comprehensive plan, and considered.
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