STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS The Roanoke Times

Eric Jennings sprays grass seed Monday along the bench cut of the Roanoke River beneath the Memorial Avenue bridge as Danny Deheer drives.

JEANNA DUERSCHERL The Roanoke Times

Eric Thomas, son of the late Del. Vic Thomas, hugs Roanoke City Council member Anita Price. The council voted to name a new park after the lawmaker.

Greenway enthusiasts headed west on the Roanoke River pass through River's Edge Park, Smith Park, Wasena Park, and soon they will run, bike and walk through the A. Victor "Vic" Thomas Park as well.

The Roanoke City Council voted unanimously Monday to name the former Hannah Court trailer park site after the late state delegate, who was known for his work on conservation issues.

Thomas represented parts of Roanoke and Roanoke County in the House of Delegates for 30 years. He was an influential state Democrat who earned a reputation fighting for land conservation and hunting and fishing rights. Thomas retired in 2003 and died three years later.

The General Assembly briefly considered renaming Smith Mountain Lake State Park after Thomas in 2007, but reconsidered after lake-area businesses and community organizations protested over worry the name change would cause confusion and hurt the park's marketability. Last year a 200-acre portion of the park was named in Thomas' honor.

In related business, the council also voted to accept an additional $18,225 in funding from Novozymes Biologicals, which already has donated $250,000 for work on the park as part of a deal reached when the company pleaded guilty to two incidents of violating the Clean Water Act in 2004 and 2005.

The council also accepted $80,850 in federal grants -- and set aside $100,000 in city funds -- for replacement of the nearby low-water bridge that divides Smith Park from Wasena Park.

The actions come as the city moves forward with the final steps of the Roanoke River Greenway, which will run from Bridge Street, near Shaffers Crossing, on the west to a connection with the Tinker Creek Greenway near the city's wastewater treatment plant on the east.

When complete, the greenway is planned to run the entire length of the Roanoke River through the city.

Much of the greenway has been built with federal funds that have come courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' $64.3 million flood-reduction project.