ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603040007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Guest Column
SOURCE: GARY HARKRADER
I realize why many citizens are defending the Lowe's site plan. Finally, we may have a recreation center. Had the Lowe's building not been substandard, it would have been only a matter of opinion as to which site turned you on. But why buy a building with a history of major roof problems?
And how can the public compare sites when citizens have not been entirely presented with the original site plan. A heavily publicized introduction to the original site and citizen participation are essential for an important project such as this.
The original Parks and Recreation Master Plan came from a study conducted by Hill Studio, a planning and architectural group from Roanoke. One of the study's goals was "to develop a sense of involvement and ownership within a community that is currently lacking." A survey solicited citizen priorities for recreational needs. The original Recreation Center Building Complex was to be located on town-owned property near two existing parks between North Franklin and Depot streets. The proximity to a creek and greenways was ideal. This site included an indoor running track, exercise, meeting, game and senior citizen rooms, and regulation basketball and racquetball courts. An aquatic center was to be a later part of the complex. A copy of the plan can still be obtained from the town offices.
The town's citizens have not had the opportunity to be introduced to the original master plan in its entirety. Eight months of work by the town's recreation advisory commission and subcommittee and the resulting $25,000 study now sit on a shelf. The citizens were also denied a public hearing to have input and comments prior to the purchase of the Lowe's property. The Lowe's property was bought without properly receiving recommendations from the town's own recreation advisory commission and subcommittee.
The citizens of Christiansburg watch surrounding towns and cities such as Pulaski, Radford, Pembroke, Salem and Wytheville solicit citizen inclusion in local government. Citizen involvement in Christiansburg is not encouraged or appreciated.
I suggest the following solution, because the citizens of Christiansburg deserve input on such an important issue. Form a new recreation committee that includes original members and any new people who might be interested. They could make recommendations about what could be done with the original site, also on town-owned property, and the Lowe's property. The citizens can once again be part of the process. The committees can make recommendations to the town, and the town can hold another public hearing in which all people will be allowed to speak.
Town leaders and citizens should not tag people who have a different opinion as critics or troublemakers. A project this big deserves public input and careful consideration.
Gary Harkrader is a Christiansburg artist and is chairman of Friends of Christiansburg, a neighborhood organization.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB