The Town of Vinton doesn’t have much green space downtown – and it’s planning to fix that. Vinton is drawing up plans for what Town Manager Chris Lawrence calls a “pocket park” next door to the municipal building downtown.
The 6000 sq. ft park will be built right across the street from the new Roanoke County library branch on the old Dunman Floral warehouse property. That project should get underway soon.
The new pocket park could cost anywhere between $60,000 and $150,000 according to Lawrence, depending in large part on what amenities are installed – like the level of playground equipment. The Vinton Lions Club has agreed to help out with fundraising. While Town Council has allotted money up front for the design phase they may see where the fundraising efforts wind up before taking care of any shortfall, according to Lawrence. The Lions Club “has really reached out,” noted Lawrence, willing to help out by applying for grants and with fundraising.
“The idea is to connect a park-like amenity with the new library,” said Lawrence. He can envision people coming out of the library with their books and perhaps a latte they purchased at the coffee shop that is planned for the library. They cross the street to the park and sit on a bench reading while their youngsters play on the swings. Lawrence said that there are other parks and playgrounds elsewhere in Vinton – but nothing located downtown.
Citizen comments from the library design phase highlighted the desire for a “family centric area,” said Lawrence, “and that’s what we looked to do.” At a public meeting about a month ago residents were asked to look at several designs for the park, one more passive and one with more playground equipment.
Vinton also had a ceremonial groundbreaking last week for the library and a handful of other capital projects now taking place: upgraded lighting, streetscape and Farmer’s Market improvements (bolstered by a federal grant), a new Walnut Avenue bridge and the Glade Creek greenway under development. It’s expected to be completed late this fall.
“Most of the designs are about finished and we’re timing it with the contract with the library,” said Lawrence of the groundbreaking ceremony. “It’s really a [celebration] for all of downtown. All of these things are timed to happen over the next 18 to 20 months.”
That Glade Creek path will connect to the Tinker Creek Greenway and can deliver walkers/runners/bikers to downtown Vinton. Ideally users could then connect to the Roanoke River Greenway via Tinker Creek – and head towards Salem and western Roanoke County once the Roanoke River Greenway is completed.
The Wolf Creek Greenway in east Vinton was one of the first built in the valley – but it doesn’t connect to the rest of the greenway system. “Having that connection to Tinker Creek (via Glade Creek) really opens us up to the rest of Roanoke County.” Wolf Creek connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway but users would currently have to take roads and sidewalks to connect to Glade Creek. Bikers have already figured out a route.
“We’ve got lots of stuff going on,” declared Lawrence. That includes a new network of sidewalks being installed. A grant is helping the Glade Creek project get off the ground. The Walnut Bridge should be done late this year.
By Gene Marrano
