Commentary – Elmwood Park Proposal Needs Closer Look

Gene Marrano’s article last week, “City Manager Takes Elmwood Park Plan on the Road” raises some important questions. In my opinion this plan is a rough road, fraught with bumps and pot holes who’s fixes are simply too costly in these austere times. The City Manager ask for input from the Parks Advisory Board.  If the Advisory Board acts on behalf of the citizens of Roanoke it will take his request seriously and should advise against this project at this point in time.

In my letter to the Roanoke Times on March 14th. I accused council of wanting to destroy the natural hillside amphitheater.  I received an email from Council Bill Bestpitch, harshly criticizing that statement and even questioning my ability to serve on the Parks Advisory Board. What does that say about city council?  Should all members who they appoint to boards and commissions only have opinions that agree with theirs?

Yet City Manager’s Morill’s plan does indeed call for a terracing of the hillside.  I guess its all in the definition of “destroying” something that is natural.  The public needs to understand this whole process of “improving Elmwood Park” is more about council and the business community pushing the need for a amphitheater down our throats at any and all cost, just like we “needed the Taubman.” As stated in Marrano’s article the amphitheater would be the first phase of the project.

Mr. Morill says he wants a vibrant park that can be used for events other than festivals. He refers to one in Savannah, GA where he came from.   Mr. Morill, we do not have a population over three hundred thousand like Savannah.  We are not Savannah, we are not Charlotte, nor do we want to be.  “WE ARE ROANOKE”   and we just want what we can presently afford – a cleaner, greener, well maintained Roanoke.

What the city manager is proposing is tantamount to a person who has trouble making their home payments with a poor credit rating, not enough money to clothe the kids, in need of car and house repairs and deciding it’s time for a back yard makeover. This would be totally irresponsibility for a person to do. How is it responsible for the city to do?

They tore down Victory Stadium opposed by a majority of the voting public. Now, two years in a row they are touting the success of the “Down by the River” concerts, pitching huge tents for this event.  Why is there not  bells going off in heads as to this being the proper and best location for an amphitheater – when and if we could (or should?) afford one?

I find it utterly amazing, that given all the cuts back to basic services in the city and shortage of money for schools, that the article mentions adding more parks to our system. The city can’t maintain the most basic maintenance of cutting grass around the city, yet has 5 million to spend on Elmwood Park and wants to add more parks to its inventory?

Something is fundamentally wrong here.  If you agree, you should attend the City Council’s Public input hearing on April 28th at 7 PM in Council Chambers. You don’t have to speak, just come show your support for sound spending of your tax dollars.

-E. Duane Howard, Roanoke

Latest Articles

  1. Mr. Ed: Savannah is about 33% larger that Roanoke and the metro area is over 300,000. Savannah is blessed with tons of metro parks but more importantly tons and tons of histroy and an ocean at the front door. Roanoker’s can only have a severe case of “Savannah envy”…as Roanoke will never come close to offereing what Savannah does.

  2. Mr. Howard, Savannah is similar to Roanoke in population. Where do you get Savannahs’ 300k population? We must create some vision for
    Elmwood Park but I must admit we have spent more money on studies that have gotten us nowhere.

- Advertisement -

Latest Articles

- Advertisement -

Related Articles