Phazhon Nash - Roanoke City Council Candidate
Campground Reopening: Are you committed to working with the National Park Service to reopen the Roanoke Mountain Campground for overnight access?
Yes, I am committed to working with the National Park Service to reacquire and reopen the Roanoke Mountain Campground. This aligns with my goal of transforming underutilized spaces within Roanoke to revitalize our community. Reopening the campground will provide more recreational opportunities and help boost local tourism, benefiting both residents and visitors.
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?
Yes, I will use my 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.
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?
Balancing budget priorities between greenway development and other infrastructure projects is challenging. I believe that in order for our community to thrive, we must address both immediate infrastructure needs and long-term projects that provide community benefits.
Overall, I believe in and will advocate for funding greenway expansion, maintenance, and improvements to ensure it remains a priority and provides recreational and environmental benefits for all to enjoy.
Some citizens have expressed safety concerns about the greenway due to the attacks last year and poor lighting and visibility. Addressing these concerns are a top priority for me.
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?
Investing in our greenway system and reopening the campground can bring substantial long-term economic benefits to our city. Specifically, I believe that investing in our greenway system will increase tourism, which boosts our local business economy and creates employment opportunities. Furthermore, proper investment in our greenway will make Roanoke a better place to visit and live, which will increase property values especially along the greenway system, and in turn will create more tax revenue for our city.
Last, making sure our greenway system is funded will create more attractive recreational space for Roanokers to enjoy, and will make Roanoke a more ideal location for people to settle down in.
To communicate these benefits to skeptical constituents, I would highlight success stories from other communities where similar investments have paid off. Sharing data and testimonials can help illustrate the positive economic impact. Additionally, I would emphasize the potential for partnerships and opportunities for community organizations such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or Humble Hustle.
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?
To engage with environmental groups and residents about expanding the greenway and reopening the Roanoke Mountain Campground, I would make sure the city manager and those involved in the planning process host community meetings and listening sessions where community stakeholders are invited to attend.
These will provide a platform for open dialogue, allowing residents to voice their concerns and recieve project updates. We will also post regular updates through social media, newsletters, and news channe. This will keep everyone informed and involved in the decision-making process. Lastly, Transparency is key, so all meeting minutes, project funds, and project plans will be publicly accessible.
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%)?
Yes, I can support increasing the parks and Recreation budget to a specific target. I would work with adjoining localities to secure additional resources for the greenway and campground projects. This could involve joint grant applications, shared funding initiatives, and coordinated marketing efforts to promote the area's recreational assets collectively. I would also support making historic investments into our recreation budget to ensure we have the necessary funds to invest in our greenway system.