FAQ

Who is managing the project?

The Roanoke Parks Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, incorporated in 2022 with the mission of supporting the City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation Department. The Foundation has a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Roanoke to manage the project and deliver the completed trails as a gift to the city.

Who designed the trails?

In 2019 Roanoke City Parks and Recreation undertook a 2 year planning process to identify trail corridors for future development that culminated in the adoption of the 2021 Amendment to the Mill Mountain Trails Plan. In January 2024 the Parks Foundation commissioned C2 Recreation out of Brevard, NC to develop more specific routing within those corridors and to produce construction documents to be used in the contractor qualification and bidding process.

Are the trails just for biking?

The top priority of this project is to enhance the experience for all users on Mill Mountain. The trails identified in this project are designated as multi-use. Some sections will be “bike optimized” but that will not diminish safety or access for hikers and runners. Our goal is to include users of all demographics and provide residents with a mountain adventure within their own city.

Why not continue building trails with volunteers?

We will! The City's staff and volunteers will maintain these and all other natural surface trails in the parks, while building additional new trail at a rate of about 1.7 miles per year. This project will bring new mileage on in one quick push, and incorporate technical features that can't be hand built by volunteers. This project will show how additional partnerships, funding sources, and construction techniques can help reach our trail building goals faster. 

Why should the community invest in this project?

The implications of this project are significant. By delivering a proof of concept in such a short time we hope to validate investment in trail systems by city and state officials.  We believe a demonstration of community support in the organization and funding of such a project will speak to the public’s desire for enhancing our recreational infrastructure. Of particular importance will be the next master trail plan for Carvin’s Cove. The precedent set by this project could become the framework through which that plan is developed. The updated trails will also position our city to expand the type of endurance events we can host.

What is the project timeline?

Since the public campaign began we’ve engaged in discussion to increase the scope of work and add additional trails from the 2021 Amendment to the project. The additional trails will add approximately $50,000 to the overall budget, which is reflected in our updated funding tracker. We are currently receiving qualifications from interested trail builders and will invite the most qualified of those contractors to submit a formal bid in September. We hope to be under contract later this fall.