The Roanoker - January/February 2017 - VL50
Greenways coordinator Liz Belcher isn't spot, with Twin River Outfitters doing brisk SAVE THE DATE quite sure when the greenway will be done but business during peak season. does know this: the growing system of urban Roanoke Valley localities have extensive Mark your calendars paths she has been advocating and seeking recreation programs and have made strides for some of the funds for over several decades have fostered a to improve their park systems. Roanoke valley's favorite annual sense of community: "People interact so much County operates the Green Ridge Recreation outdoors events on the greenway, and when you see [them] Center and the Splash Valley seasonal water April having pub runs and all kinds of social events, park; private fitness centers include YMCA Blue Ridge Marathon of Roanoke Valley locations and Carilion I think it really has given Roanoke," she says, May "something to be proud of." Wellness in Roanoke and Botetourt counties. From Rotary Park in the City of Salem a For those who enjoy watching others do Gallop for the Greenways 5K section of the Roanoke River Greenway, not the work there is "Virginia's Championship APCO 5K and 10K Festival Run quite four miles long, runs past the Moyer City"-Salem, which over the past several October Sports Complex towards Roanoke County's decades has hosted more than 80 NCAA Go Outside Festival Division II and Division III championships, Green Hill Park. You can walk/run/bike through November including the nationally-televised Amos northwest Roanoke City to Valley View Mall Star City Half Marathon Alonzo Stagg Bowl D-III football title game (Lick Run Greenway), trek to the fabled neon since 1993. NCAA Division III soccer last star (via the Mill Mountain Greenway), through Drumstick 5K Dash December was the latest addition to the parts of Vinton (Wolf Creek Greenway, the new (Thanksgiving morning) Glade Creek Greenway) and elsewhere. See portfolio. Those title tilts-including softball, December greenways.org for more details. basketball and lacrosse over the years-have Jingle Bell 5K Run Future plans call for the Roanoke River an estimated $4-5 million annual economic Greenway to span the valley from Green Hill impact in the valley. Park in the west to Explore Park in the east. "There's no question that the reputation The Tinker Creek Greenway has a long-range goal to extend of Salem in hosting championships was most beneficial to well past its modest length now, all the way to Carvins Cove. us," says Salem Director of Tourism Carey Harveycutter about A smaller Tinker segment currently meanders to the reservoir adding soccer on short notice after being relocated from North from a trailhead near Hollins University. Carolina. "Once you've got it down they're very apt to come back At the Cove there are 60-plus miles of trails-some allow ... again." Salem also hosts numerous adult and youth softball mountain biking. Roanoke County's Explore Park is developing tournaments at its Moyer Sports Complex. Recently Botetourt a master plan for its 1,100 acres; there are already several miles County built a softball facility as well, sharing larger tourneys of trails suitable for hiking/running and mountain biking. with Salem and staging others on its own. The Salem Memorial The 2,200 mile-long Appalachian Trail makes its way through Ballpark is the home of the Salem Red Sox, a farm team of the the Catawba Valley and includes one of the most photogenic Boston Red Sox. spots on the entire route-McAfee's Knob, approximately four Joining the professional team sports in the Valley, pro hockey miles from a trailhead on Route 311. Nearby Jefferson and is back after a decade hiatus, with the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs Washington National Forests also provide numerous hiking of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The Rail Yard Dawgs play at the Berglund Center where Virginia Tech also and camping opportunities. competes at the collegiate club level. Dawgs Vice-President On the opposite side of the Roanoke Valley to the east, the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) offers a relaxed, scenic driving Mickey Gray says the early public reception "exceeded every one experience with numerous overlooks for picture taking and of my expectations." Roanoke College Maroons basketball and picnicking. There are also trails for hiking and horseback riding volleyball teams now play at the $30 million Cregger Center-a along the BRP. Less than an hour away Smith Mountain Lake stunning new gym/indoor track complex among the best in provides opportunities for boating, fishing and swimming. Division III. Local recreation officials are developing a "blueway" on All things outdoors are now celebrated by thousands at the Go Outside Festival-"GO Fest" at the River's Edge Sports the Roanoke River, with kayak/canoe launches and outfitters to rent boats. Currently there is a small boat launch on South Complex every fall. Roanoke Outside-an arm of the Roanoke Jefferson Street near the Virginia Tech-Carilion medical school Regional Partnership created specifically to promote local campus and one in Vinton along Tinker Creek, with others in the outdoor amenities-is the prime mover behind GoFest. "I think planning stages. You can also rent small boats at Carvins Cove. we have really changed the community narrative here," says Beth In Botetourt County the James River Blueway is further along Doughty, executive director for the Regional Partnership. The in its development; the Town of Buchanan is a favorite "put in" outdoors, "aren't just for looking at-this is for doing." n 50 | 2017 VALLEY LIFE MAGAZINE
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