David Bowers- 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 support reopening Roanoke Mountain Campground as, I believe, our area needs a campground adjacent (near) the Blue Ridge Parkway for campers and RV’s.    My guess is the next closest one north is at Peaks of Otter and south might be near Buffalo Mountain.

Greenway Completion and Maintenance: Would you support completing and maintaining the Roanoke River Greenway from Green Hill Park to Explore Park?

Yes:   I was Mayor when Roanoke started the riverside greenway and I’d like to see it completed eastward to Explore. Maintenance, mowing and, increasingly, security ought adquately be in City budget.

Budget Prioritization: Would you establish consistent annual funding for greenway expansion, maintenance, and improvements?

Not sure about this.   The current Council has left our City with a budget crisis.  I hope my experience 16 years as Mayor will give me insight as to how we should financially take care of what we’ve got, before entering into any nice nee programs or projects.

Economic and Community Benefits: How would the economic, health, and quality-of-life benefits of outdoor infrastructure influence your investment decisions?

I hope my answers and previous public service should assure our citizens of my interest in greenways and the campground.

Community Engagement: How would you ensure meaningful public input and transparency when expanding the greenway and reopening the campground?

I’ve always been an advocate for environmental issues and would gladly meet with anyone.

Regional Cooperation and Funding: Would you increase Roanoke’s recreation funding from 2% to 3% and partner regionally to improve outdoor infrastructure?

I don’t see the level of regional cooperation that we had when Noel Taylor and then I served.  Seems like we need to start over on that one!   I’d like to increase parks and recreation investment but, as I’ve stated above, the City, in my opinion, is in a budget crisis, and, if elected, I’ll have to dig into the problem to offer some short-term solutions and set some long-term goals.