Click to Enlarge

Citizens had a chance to review the plans, which include assessments and recommendations for all 540 acres of park land, the Community Center, Aquatic Center, Golf Course, a wide range of programs, and future parks and facility needs for the community.

The plan also identified the top 10 priorities for the town to focus on during the next 20 years. Topping the list was a Community Recreation Center, followed by (in their respective order) Athletic Fields, Outdoor Pool Facility, Nature Study Center, Active Park Amenities, Trails, Natural Areas, Golf Course Expansion, Indoor Pool Facility and expand and improve programs as new facilities and parks are developed.

“The Community Recreation Center is still off in a distance,” said Dean Crane, Blacksburg Director of Parks and Recreation. “The plans have not even been drawn or ideas taken. We may add on to the current community center or we may build a brand new facility.”

Other long-range plans include a indoor and outdoor pool facilities and an expansion to the current nine-hole Blacksburg Golf Course into an 18-hole course.

“The Community Center and the other major projects are down the road,” added Crane. “Like everything else, these projects will require money and right now we do not have the funding for these capital projects.”

Although several projects are down the road, a few have been completed or are in the process of being completed.

They included the new skate park, which was completed last year. Work is also underway for the Huckleberry Trail Extension and the Ellett Valley Loop Trail.

The tennis courts, which are located near the recreation center, will also receive a new re-surface in the upcoming weeks.

These particular projects come under the heading of Active Park Amenities.

Blacksburg residents will have another chance to view the plans at another community meeting scheduled for Monday, July 28. The open house will be held at the Blacksburg Community Center from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Written or verbal comments may be given at the meeting or submitted by July 31, 2008, to:

Town of Blacksburg – Town Manager’s Office
P.O. Box 90003
Blacksburg, VA 24062.

Comments may also be emailed to Chris Lawrence, Assistant to the Town Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please reference “Parks and Recreation Master Plan Public Comment” as the subject.

Photo: (Top) Blacksburg Parks and Recreation Director Dean Crane (left) explains the new 20-year vision plan to a concerned citizen at a community meeting Thursday evening. (Photo by David Grimes)

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment