There are busy streets and residential areas nearby, but the newest section of the Roanoke River Greenway, which just opened, includes the kind of views this area is known for. It is a 1.2-mile segment in Salem, and offers a quick and easy way to get away from it all. Parking is available at the Salem Rotary Park (Rt. 419 at Apperson Drive) for the paved trail, which briefly merges with a sidewalk before ducking under Apperson to begin its journey to the Colorado Street Bridge, following along the meandering Roanoke River.
That’s where it currently ends, but a link is being built to another segment (the Smith trail) at the Moyer Sports Complex. Eventually that will extend to Green Hill Park in Roanoke County, where another section of the 11-mile Roanoke River Greenway is already in place.
The new Salem segment, built for about $550,000, opened with a ribbon cutting in March after some delays due to bad weather and flood damage. On a recent sunny afternoon fishermen were trying their luck; elsewhere moms pushed baby strollers and members of the Roanoke College men’s lacrosse team took a dip or jumped off a swinging rope into the river.
Roanoke City is currently working on another greenway segment that will extend from Wasena Park to the Memorial Street Bridge. Eventually it will join up with the sections coming east from Salem, to form a continuous urban trail through the valley.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]
