STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS The Roanoke Times

Leigh Thomas, 39, rides across the new bridge that opened Tuesday and connects two Roanoke parks, including Vic Thomas Park, which has exercise stations. "It is so beautiful with the workout circuit on the other side," she said.

Pam Speed has been eagerly waiting to cross the Roanoke River.

"I'm the person who comes down to the greenway and sits in front of the bridge waiting for it to open," she said part-jokingly. "But seriously, I am really excited that it is finally opened."

A 250-foot-long steel bridge spanning the Roanoke River from Wasena Park to the new Vic Thomas Park officially opened Tuesday afternoon during a ribbon-cutting ceremony complete with refreshments, city and state officials, Thomas' family and Roanoke River Greenway enthusiasts.

Speed, who bikes on the greenway often and lives near the new park in Raleigh Court, said she'll now have a much flatter ride that will save her from cutting through neighborhoods.

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The Roanoke Times

The new bridge, made from rusting steel, is similar to those used on Western Virginia's freight rail lines.

The new park adds a twist to the greenway's gentle system of paved trails. It features exercise stations, with signs posted along the path, suggesting exercises to work the entire body. The park also offers large areas for gatherings and will soon add picnic tables. The plan is to keep the park as natural as possible, said Donnie Underwood, the city's parks and greenways planner.

"You won't find golf course manicured grass here," Underwood said. "We want to attract wildlife to the area with natural plantings."

Funding for the new $1 million bridge and park came from the city, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood-reduction project and Novozymes Biologicals, the Salem biotechnology company that paid $275,000 in fines and at least $250,000 more for dumping waste that ended up in Mason Creek in 2004 and 2005.

Roanoke's 10 miles of greenways connect green spaces and people, Underwood said.

"More and more people from different areas of the city are using the greenway," he said. "People are going into neighborhoods and meeting people they normally wouldn't."

Vic Thomas Park was named after the late state delegate who represented parts of Roanoke and Roanoke County in the House of Delegates for 30 years and was known for conservation issues.

The next phase of the greenway, costing about $2.8 million, will extend a mile from Vic Thomas Park to Bridge Street. Eventually plans call for a greenway to run the entire length of the river within the city limits.

Earlier this year, the Roanoke City Council voted to accept federal and state money to build a bridge connecting the Roanoke River Greenway and the Tinker Creek Greenway in the southeast section of the city. Planners are exploring options to expand the greenway into Salem, said City Manager Chris Morrill.

"The greenway has already strengthened communities," Morrill said. "It's getting more people outside, on their porches and more children outdoors."