Wednesday, January 23, 2008
For lots of reasons, keep it green
From the RoundTable blog
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Kate Birding
Birding is a resident of Roanoke.
Dan Radmacher's column "Rockledge won't make, or break, Mill Mountain" (Jan. 6) expresses the feelings of many who believe that building a restaurant in Mill Mountain Park is a neutral proposition that won't affect the Roanoke Valley or Mill Mountain.
There are sound reasons, however, that go beyond the great "potential for failure" (noted by the editorial board) that suggest negative consequences to developing the park.
We, as a community, must ensure that our choices for progress accurately reflect our times. The challenges facing our country, whether to our natural resources, environment or health, must be given consideration when making all our decisions, especially those that impact our ability to compete with other cities that are taking seriously the changing culture.
Demographers have noted that the trend in population growth is a return to urban living and away from suburban sprawl. Citizens with the luxury of choosing place first, job second, are voting for addresses with walkable commutes in and near dynamic city centers.
This demographic shift has been steadily growing throughout the country for more than 20 years and has been a catalyst for renewed vitality in many cities, including Roanoke. As competition has sharpened, the importance of restoring and preserving landmarks, buildings and parks has proven essential to luring new businesses and residents. It is important to note that the cities enjoying the greatest success in attracting population growth have in common one tangible thing that cannot be built: beautiful natural resources that offer quick retreats from the daily grind of urban life.
How do we economically justify diverting resources (creative and financial), customer traffic and development away from our downtown efforts into a nearby mountain park whose natural setting is the perfect complement to downtown living?
Countries, cities, communities and corporations around the globe have come to acknowledge the need to increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and decrease dependency on fossil fuels. Industry and governments are adopting these environmental goals in design plans for future development.
Communities everywhere are beginning to see the benefits of changing old attitudes regarding growth. Cities have begun preserving green fields, controlling urban sprawl and focusing development in existing neighborhoods and business districts. The explosion of green marketing has rewarded forward thinking communities with citizens and businesses that share quality of environment and life concerns.
How can we market ourselves as clean and green if we vote for development that encourages and necessitates greater demands on energy resources and increased carbon emissions, not to mention the disruption of prized green space?
The increasing rates of chronic disease and obesity that are directly related to lack of physical activity and poor eating habits are alarming. We live in a time when Americans everywhere have come to associate recreation with eating, drinking and shopping. Our country is paying a steep price in health care dollars due to attitudes that define outdoor recreation as a spectator sport with food-buying opportunities. More than ever, communities and government officials are realizing the importance of providing and supporting parks and recreation that encourage activity and exercise, promoting good health for their citizens.
How can we distinguish ourselves as a community that actively encourages healthy living habits if we accept restaurant development as the right way to attract citizens to use and enjoy public parks and open green space?
The Mill Mountain Advisory Committee and Roanoke City Council will decide soon whether to keep Mill Mountain Park a mostly natural setting. For our economic, marketing and personal health, the choice is clear: Keep it natural.
