A campaign to connect our communities

B r i d g i n g t h e g a p

Roanoke River Greenway has become a focal point for

connecting people to the great outdoors, recreation and

exercise, bicycling, walking, skating, jogging, and fishing.

Tremendous progress has been made in developing the

Greenway, with eight miles complete and six miles funded

for construction.

There remains a gap in the middle where significant funding

is needed to complete the four miles that will connect two

sections of the Greenway. You can help complete this trail,

building both a legacy for the future and a treasure for today.

The Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission has made

funding of this section its top priority. In cooperation with

the non-profit Pathfinders for Greenways, Inc. and the four

localities, the Commission will seek support from a broad

range of partners to “bridge the gap.” When this section

of the path is finished, Roanoke River Greenway will provide

a continuous route from Green Hill Park to Tinker Creek

Greenway, a distance of more than 18 miles.

greenways connect people. a completely connected stretch of greenwayfrom western roanoke County through Salem and roanoke to Vinton will enhance our quality of life and entice people to stay and come here to live, work, and play. – g. Michael pace, Jr. Community advocate & Citizen Lawyer

a greenway runS through it.

Greenway users have asked us to finish the Roanoke River Greenway.

We are excited at the prospect of “Bridging the Gap” as both a

gesture of regional cooperation and as a critical link in providing a

world-class greenway system for the recreational, educational, health,

and alternative transportation needs of our citizens.

There are few legacies we can leave that will be more lasting

and significant than the completed Greenway. It will both unite

and define our communities.

We ask that you support this effort financially through your tax-

deductible, charitable gift. You may make donations in the form

of cash, securities, property, or in-kind services, either once or

periodically over three years. Naming and special recognition

opportunities are available to those making significant gifts.

r o a n o k e r i V e r g r e e n w a y

Join uS to CoMpLete the

Make checks and pledges payable to:

Roanoke Valley Greenways

1206 Kessler Mill Rd.Salem, VA 24153P: 540.387.6060F: 540.387.6146

www.greenways.org

Green HillPark

Apperson

Brid

ge St.

Roanoke County

RotaryPark

Explore Park

City of Salem

City of Roanoke

Town ofVinton

GarstMill

WasenaPark

Mill Mountain

Lick RunW. Main St.

Frankli

n

Murray Run

Hanging Rock

Peter’s Creek E

xt.

Wolf Creek

TinkerCreek

Blue Ridge Park

way

419

220

The trail is incomplete. A four-mile unfunded section remains, which could divide the Greenway into two separate sections. By joining us through your contribution, you will help:

• complete an 18-mile recreational trail that connects our communities from Green Hill Park in western Roanoke County through Salem and Roanoke, to Vinton via the Tinker Creek Greenway, • become a regional tourist destination as one of the longest urban greenways in the eastern United States,• increase use of our parks and recreational areas,• promote healthy living in our communities through a resource that is free for everyone,• provide greater accessibility to the beautiful Roanoke River,• offer many educational opportunities ranging from ecology to history,• create new economic development opportunities,• and increase the value of individual properties and entire neighborhoods near the Greenway.

Help us complete the Greenway. It will pay dividends for generations to come.

roanoke river greenway—Connecting our Communities

roanoke river greenway Status Mapn Funding Needed (4.1 miles) $7 million

nCompleted (8 miles)

n Funded for Construction 2010–2013 (6.2 miles)

n Future Plan (14 miles)

n Other Area Greenways

The Roanoke River Greenway

fulfills a vision of togetherness

and connectedness. The

Greenway presents a picture

of community—people of all

ages, backgrounds, and

economic standing enjoying

nature, riding bicycles, walking,

skating, and jogging along our

river, through our parks,

immersed in the outdoors.

Our goal is to connect all sections of Roanoke River Greenway through the urban portion of the valley by the end of 2013. To achieve this, we need a commitment of $7 million by June 2012 to allow time for engineering, securing of rights-of-way, and construction. While the Roanoke River Greenway is an excellent example of shared public/private vision, the majority of funding has come from government sources. To finish it will require the shared commitment and contributions of individuals, corporations, and concerned organizations.

While we hope to benefit from federal and state grants, these resources are uncertain. Because our goal and benefits are clear, Bridging the Gap is the way to take control and responsibility for bringing great things to our valley.

our goal is to finish this core section of roanoke river greenway by the end of 2013. to accomplish this, $7 million must be committed by June 2012.

Greg Vaughn