West Roanoke River Greenway, Phase 2

Aerial photo of the west Roanoke River Greenway study area

Overview

Roanoke County, the City of Salem and the City of Roanoke have been working to plan, design and construct segments of the Roanoke River Greenway for many years. Roanoke County, in partnership with the City of Salem, is currently constructing Phase 1 of the West Roanoke River Greenway between Kingsmill Drive and a new trailhead parking lot located next to Riverside Nursery with construction anticipated to be complete in Fall 2025. Phase 2 of the project was originally designed to include two bridges across the Roanoke River to connect Phase 1 with the existing greenway in Green Hill Park. This phase had a high cost estimate and no construction funding. Roanoke County held community meetings in April 2024 and April 2025 to talk with the surrounding community about other potential alternate routes that may be possible to locate the greenway south of the river, which would eliminate the need for expensive bridges across the Roanoke River. 

The result of those meetings and the feedback provided was selection of a conceptual alignment south of the Roanoke River located between West Riverside Drive and the river (Option 1). Roanoke County submitted an application for Surface Transportation Block and Carbon Reduction Program funding in September 2025 for funding to design the project. Funding awards are anticipated in Spring 2026.

April 2025 Community Meeting

Roanoke County held another community meeting on April 2, 2025, at Fort Lewis Elementary School to review feedback from the April 2024 community meeting, to consider and provide comments on potential Phase 2 greenway alignments, and to share the status of Phase 1 of the project currently under construction. Approximately 71 people attended the meeting and 82 surveys were completed to collect feedback on the proposed Phase 2 potential greenway route concepts.

Meeting Materials:

April 2024 Community Meeting

Roanoke County held a community meeting on April 11, 2024, at Fort Lewis Elementary School. 95 people attended to review materials providing information for the following purposes:

  • To provide an update on construction of the West Roanoke River Greenway (Phase 1) between Kingsmill Drive and the new trailhead parking lot near Riverside Nursery;
  • To share the history of the West Roanoke River Greenway (Phase 2) alignment proposed between Green Hill Park and the new Phase 1 under construction; and
  • To consider potential alternative routes to connect the new Phase 1 under construction to the existing greenway at Green Hill Park.

Meeting Materials:

Survey and Exercise Results:

  1. Where Mountains Meet Adventure.

  1. Roanoke County Virginia Homepage

Contact Us

  1. Roanoke County, Virginia

    P.O. Box 29800
    Roanoke, VA 24018-0798
    Phone: 540-772-2006
    Staff Directory

  1. Virginias Blue Ridge Homepage

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