Roanoke invests extra $2M toward park system maintenance

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The Star City is putting an additional $2 million into its park system, with an emphasis on deferred maintenance items.

While developing Roanoke Department of Parks and Recreation’s master plan in 2019, officials say they conducted a comprehensive facility assessment and created a prioritized list of maintenance needs. Then, during the 2022 fiscal year, an initial $2.3 million was dedicated to addressing these priorities.

Roanoke City says that the projects included handling six playground replacements, repaving parking lots, resurfacing and/or repurposing athletic courts, and adding benches along greenways, and other work.

With this extra $2 million, Roanoke Parks and Rec will reportedly continue addressing the deferred maintenance needs in the park system.

“Parks are a critical and essential public service. From promoting community wellness and quality family time to improving environmental quality and connecting with nature, parks help build a better, more livable community for all city residents,” said Michael Clark, director of Roanoke Parks and Recreation.

The full list of planned improvements is included below:

• Belmont Park
  • Playground
  • Accessible path to playground
  • Stair/retaining wall repair
• Eastgate Park
  • Playground
  • Accessible path to playground
• Fallon Park
  • Athletic field fencing
  • Athletic field turf
  • Athletic field bleachers
  • Repave/stripe roadway
• Fishburn Park
  • Playground
• Freedom Plaza
  • Landscaping replacement
• Garden City Greenway
  • Painted trail
  • Utility pole removal
• Historic Fishburn Mansion
  • Repave/stripe parking lot
  • Garden accessibility and landscape improvements
• Huff Lane Park
  • In-Line skate rink
  • Basketball court
  • Tennis court
• Kennedy Park
  • Picnic shelter lighting
• Lick Run Greenway
  • Signage and Paint
• Mill Mountain Park
  • Timber guardrail along road
  • Accessible bench pads
  • Invasive species removal
• Morningside Park
  • New parking lot and guardrail
  • Accessible path to community garden
• River’s Edge Park
  • Athletic field scoreboards
• Roanoke River Greenway
  • Landscaping improvements
• Strauss Park
  • Playground
• Sunrise Park
  • Spring box replacement
• Wasena Park
  • Parking lot guardrail
• Washington Park
  • Basketball court guardrail

Officials say they plan to complete — or at least start — these deferred maintenance projects within the fiscal year. However, community members need to keep in mind that timelines change frequently due to a number of factors, such as supply chain delays, outside contractor availability, inflation, and weather