Community Developments

Vinyard Park is located in eastern Roanoke County between Vinton and the City of Roanoke. Glade Creek, which flows through the park, was identified as one of the most heavily eroded streams in the County. County staff determined that the creek, and the surrounding park, could benefit greatly from applying natural stream restoration principles to the stream. This is particularly true since this portion of Glade Creek is a heavily used stocked trout stream.
 
As watersheds develop water flows to streams change, resulting in excessive bank erosion and sedimentation in the stream. Natural stream restoration principles seek to restore a stream to a more natural condition by cutting back steep slopes to slow stream high flow velocities, providing in-stream rock structures to concentrate stream forces in the middle of the stream to protect banks and to keep stream channels free of sediment, and to improve fish habitat by providing riffles and pools.


Bank erosion along Glade Creek before construction

Phase 1 was completed in the summer of 2016. Phase 1 consisted of approximately 3,000 linear feet of stream located upstream of the crossing of Berkley Road. The construction cost $888,440, with $431,720 provided by a state water quality grant, and $456,720 provided by local funds.

The project benefits are:

• Protecting adjacent playing fields from stream encroachment
• Improving fish habitat
• Improving park safety by removing high vertical stream banks
• Improving stream access by the public
• Reducing sediment discharges to the stream by 831 tons/year
• Improving park aesthetics and enhancing the stream as a park amenity

Example of stream restoration along Glade Creek

Planning for Phase 2 is underway. Phase 2 will improve the stream for approximately 2,500 linear feet downstream of the crossing with Berkley Road. If our grant application is funded by the state, construction for this phase could occur in the fall of 2018.

The 2007 Roanoke Valley Conceptual Greenway Plan shows the proposed Glade Creek Greenway running along Glade Creek through Vinyard Park. There are no plans to build the Vinyard Park section of the greenway at this time.