ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 17, 1997 TAG: 9702170012
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: a cuppa joe
SOURCE: JOE KENNEDY
Amid the furor surrounding whether Mill Mountain Park should be developed with a parking garage, aerial tram, restaurant or other scheme, Robert Roth worries.
The Roanoke Sister Cities sculpture project he and others have worked on since 1992 awaits City Council approval, probably March 17. It consists of seven sculptures before seven trees in a keystone-shaped area south of the visitor center and beside the walkway to Mill Mountain Zoo.
The project ``antedates all this fuss over commercial development on Mill Mountain,'' Roth said, ``which I oppose myself. ... We're over on the environmental side. I have the feeling we're getting tarred on the side of parking garages and restaurants.''
Fund raising is under way, and the timing couldn't be worse.
Roth is a retired plastic surgeon and longtime supporter of Roanoke Sister Cities, of which he is president. He's a quiet, white-haired man who lives with his wife, Dot, in a spot they call ``Peace Pagodas'' on Smith Mountain Lake.
The sculpture project ``is conceived as a visible, tangible reminder that we live in a diverse world, indeed, in a diverse society,'' he said.
Its aim is ``to add beauty blended with nature.''
`Rest and enjoy the summit'
My daughter and I met the Roths atop the mountain late Wednesday afternoon. Gray clouds hung over the valley, and a piercing wind blew from the north.
A winter storm was on its way.
We stood by the site, where four trees already have been planted. Snow lay on the ground. At the south edge, someone had sculpted a snowman.
Each of the proposed sculptures - representing Roanoke and its six sister cities of Wonju, Korea; Kisumu, Kenya; Pskov, Russia; Florianopolis, Brazil; Opole, Poland; and Lijiang, China - will contain information in English and the city's native language, he said.
``The plan is to have seven benches where people can rest and enjoy the summit.''
There will be no concrete, and certainly no commercial elements. He hopes it will help visitors feel connected to people around the world.
Limited impact preferred
Sister Cities planted the trees in 1992, when Roanoke had only three sister cities. A month later, thieves took the sign marking the spot.
``We were very frustrated by that,'' Roth said. ``We said, `We have to have something they can't carry away.'''
The group settled on a $500 granite marker. Then someone suggested a sculpture, and raised the ante to $3,000. Then someone said that wouldn't cover it, so the budget went up again . Now it's at $20,000, with only $4,400 in the kitty.
To reach this point, the sculpture selection committee has negotiated a gantlet of plans, meetings and approvals involving City Council, the Mill Mountain Development Committee, and arts and other groups.
Ideas were solicited from artists across the state. Four were asked to make scale models. The winner was chosen in January and will be announced next month.
Now, with funds needed, Roth naturally is concerned about the controversy over changes to the mountain.
Given its long evolution, benevolent intention and small area, plus Roanoke's shortage of public art, the sculpture project looks far preferable to plans for expanded parking, aerial trams or eateries.
Still, it shows that someone will always have ideas for changing the city's prime piece of real estate - which belongs to everyone, not to any particular group. Most of the ideas won't be as gentle as this one.
And that's why, from here on, the mountain should be left as it is.
What's your story? Call me at 981-3256, send e-mail to joekxc2roanoke.com or write to P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB