Anne Marie Green - Salem City Council
Campground Reopening: Are you committed to working with the National Park Service to reopen the Roanoke Mountain Campground for overnight access?
While I would be happy to work with NPS to reopen the campground for camping, I also realize that Congress hasn't seen fit to prioritize the Park Service in recent budgets. NPS does not have enough funding to do what needs to be done anywhere along the Parkway and I am committed to conveying that message to our federal elected representatives. If reopening it for camping isn't a possibility, I would work with NPS and the community to determine what would be the best use of the space for visitors and for the community.
Greenway Completion: Will you use your best efforts to secure the right of way and commit to the necessary funding to complete the Roanoke River Greenway from Explore Park to Green Hill Park?
Completion of the Roanoke River Greenway is extremely important to our region. The west Salem portion is underway now, which I believe will finish the link to Green Hill Park. I fully support the completion on the east side of the Valley, along with the final connection between Salem and Roanoke.
Budget Prioritization: How do you envision balancing budget priorities between greenway development and other infrastructure projects? Will you advocate allocating a dedicated percentage of the annual budget to greenway expansion, maintenance, and improvement?
I am not in favor of dedicated percentages for any project, because needs and priorities fluctuate from year to year. However, I do believe that maintaining infrastructure is important and should be incorporated into the budget process annually. Salem is currently seeing the result of maintenance deferred at Moyer Field and the Civic Center. If something is built with taxpayer dollars, there is a responsibility to maintain it and potentially expand it as necessary.
Economic Benefits: What are the long-term economic benefits of investing in our greenway system and reopening the campground, and how would you communicate these benefits to constituents who may be skeptical of the costs?
In the big picture, greenways and campgrounds are draws that can bring tourists and events to the Roanoke Valley, which results in money being spent on food, lodging, gas, etc. That is good for our economy. But in the day-to-day picture, there is more than an economic benefit to these amenities. Being able to easily access nature in a public setting is important to the people who live here. It improves mental health, gives us the opportunity to exercise and creates curiosity about the world around us. Those benefits aren't quantifiable, but they enrich us as a citizenry.
Community Engagement: How do you plan to engage with environmental groups and local residents to address concerns about expanding the greenway and reopening the Roanoke Mountain Campground? What strategies will you use to ensure transparency and public involvement in the decision-making process?
Unfortunately, Salem doesn't have a great history of involving local residents in the decision-making process. As someone running for Salem City Council, I believe this can and should be changed. There isn't much left for Salem to do, however, with respect to the Greenway. If the Park Service is interested and open to conversation with local residents, I believe that Salem can communicate that through the usual outlets, such as social media and texting.
Resource Allocation: How would you work with adjoining localities to secure additional resources for the region's outdoor recreation initiatives, including the greenway and campground projects? Can you support increasing the recreation budget to a specific target (e.g., from 2% to 3%)?
Again, I don't support specific targets, because things change constantly. However, I do think that the region can work together to support these projects. Obviously, the Greenway Commission already does this and is made up of representatives from each of the local governments. I think that we can provide a united front to the Park Service also, working with them to get the best project for everyone. This would include discussing it with our congressional delegation and getting input from the citizens.