Noke News explores parts of Roanoke by foot, equipped with a camera and a notepad, in hopes of learning something new. Perhaps you will too.

This is Part 4 in an Exploring Roanoke series that covers: the current (as of May, 2008) entire nearly 6 miles of the Roanoke River Greenway, Wasena Park, The Skate Park, Smith Park, Piedmont Park, and lots of scenery along the way.

(For a general introduction to the greenway system in Roanoke, you may want to first visit a previous post.)

Distance (Part 4): approx. 1/8 mile

Excursion at the Roanoke River

During Part 3 we had veered to the left and taken the paved path from Wiley Drive, leading towards the middle of Smith Park. But, what if we continue walking along Wiley Drive?

Well, we’re definitely closer to the Roanoke River and it just so happens that there’s a nice little spot ahead that easily allows access to the water.

Also, at various points along the River are these neat little signs. And during many times of the day I usually see a number of fisherman, some from the bank and others choosing to wade in the water.

The little clearing and rock bank ahead appears to be quite a good fishing spot I think. Or, in my case, just a peaceful spot to rest after traveling this far. Across the River is a elevated set of train tracks, reminding me that I’m never too far from the railroad around Roanoke.

The water is pretty clear near the bank, and the bottom of the river here is littered with countless stones. I reached out and down towards the water, and as I did a small school of tiny fish hurriedly swam away in the other direction.

This clearing is rather large when the water is at this elevation, which seems about how it should be under the relatively normal weather conditions we’ve experienced lately.

Looking Ahead

At the end of the clearing I stand for a minute and look ahead and down the River. Some trees near the bank tend to seemingly grow out of the ground horizontally, and then upwards reaching for the sun.

Faintly in the background, I can see the second bridge on Wiley Drive that we’ll soon be crossing.

Continuing the Journey

After a few more moments of watching and staring at what lies ahead, I decide to bring this little side excursion to and end and continue on my way.

So, I carry myself back up to Wiley Drive and keep walking. Shortly, I come upon that second bridge and also see in the near distance another road bridge which we will be walking under.

In Exploring Roanoke - The Roanoke River Greenway (Part 5), we’ll check all of this out and I’ll also talk about why you may want to watch your head when walking under this particular bridge. (Hint: “falling debris” from some other feathered wildlife.)

Several days ago I received a comment to Part 2 of The Roanoke River Greenway series which was left by Chris, who also operates a local blog. He was requesting use of the pictures I’ve taken of The Roanoke River Greenway, as he is working on an online map of the greenway system. (I’ll post more on that a little later.)

In my response to his comment, I mentioned that I’ve actually taken dozens and dozens of pictures along and around The Roanoke River Greenway. But, when I sit down to write a post I include only a relatively small handful of them.

Well, I couldn’t see any sense in just keeping all of the pictures stored my computer hard drive. So, here’s a few more that didn’t quite make the cut and weren’t included in the first 3 parts of the original series: Exploring Roanoke - The Roanoke River Greenway.

I’ll be back with a new Part 4 on Monday, have a great weekend!

Grasses and weeds sprout up between the planks and gravel in a set of train tracks that runs beside Wasena Park.

Construction signs cover a section of Wiley Drive underneath the Wasena Bridge, as some existing pavement is actually being replaced with greenspace in this area. A sign for The Skate Park can be seen to the left.

Shortly before the first bridge on Wiley Drive, a building appears to have been boarded up and closed. I suppose it used to be a destination for parties and receptions.

Butterflies gather on the side of the Roanoke River.

Past, present, and even future considering, my favorite all-time TV program is The Andy Griffith Show.

I grew up watching it (primarily with my dad who had watched the original airings when he was growing up) and I give credit to the show for helping me to form an idea of working hard, and a concept of right and wrong.

Now when I was growing up, which wasn’t all that long ago, the notion of getting TV shows on a simple and convenient format like DVD was merely a twinkle in the eye of technology.

So, without WDBJ7 consistently showing re-runs each weekday at 5:30 I would not have been able to continually watch this wonderful show. (I don’t pay for expanded cable television service so other options such as the TV Land channel are not available.)

Nowadays, more often with the help of TiVo, I still continue to watch the shows on Channel 7.

And, hopefully for several years to come I’ll be able to watch the shows over and over again like I always have. I’ve bought a season or two on DVD thus far, but there’s just something neat about watching the show “live” like I originally did growing up.

Noke News explores parts of Roanoke by foot, equipped with a camera and a notepad, in hopes of learning something new. Perhaps you will too.

This is Part 3 in an Exploring Roanoke series that covers: the current (as of May, 2008) entire nearly 6 miles of the Roanoke River Greenway, Wasena Park, The Skate Park, Smith Park, Piedmont Park, and lots of scenery along the way.

(For a general introduction to the greenway system in Roanoke, you may want to first visit a previous post.)

Distance (Part 3): approx. 1/4 mile

At the end of Part 2, we had traveled the greenway until it connected with Wiley Drive, and then crossed over the first bridge.

Wiley Drive

The median that seperates the left and right side lanes does continue throughout the entire length of Wiley Drive.

Automobile traffic on Wiley Drive is permitted only when going South (the direction we’re going). So, I believe it’s the intention of the City for all non-motorized traffic to use the other lane, no matter which direction you are traveling.

Familiar Feathered Friends

The Roanoke River is visible just to the right and at the bottom of the hill. As I continued walking I heard a familiar faint quacking which was only slightly louder than the gentle roaring of the river.

I approached the bank for a closer look.

And I saw a family of ducks swimming in the water, their heads periodically bobbing below the surface looking for food.

I was a reminded of a time a few weeks ago where I suppose I had encountered some of their relatives along a section of the Roanoke River in Salem.

Smith Park

Back to Wiley Drive, and I found that I was approaching the third park along the Roanoke River Greenway, namely Smith Park.

Approaching the entrance of Smith Park from Wiley Drive

Soon after passing the park’s sign, I came upon a pedestrian intersection. To the left, I believe the official greenway path continues via a paved walkway which goes towards and around the park. The other option is to continue going straight which keeps you on Wiley Drive. (The greenway path connects again with Wiley Drive a bit further ahead.)

We’re going to travel along both options during this series, starting with the greenway path and visiting Smith Park. As seen in the above photo, along Wiley Drive there are a few parking spaces here so the park itself if very much accessible by automobile.

As I continued walking down the paved pathway leading into the heart of the Smith Park, a tree on both sides acts as a natural gateway. And I could begin to see a covered patio and the bright colors of a playground area in the distance.

Walking towards Smith Park along the Roanoke River Greenway

I came to learn of the origin behind the park’s name from a small memorial also in the area. The park is named after Robert Hall Smith, who was President of Norfolk and Western Railray Co (N&W) from 1946-1958. The park was dedicated in his name in 1965.

The greenway path leads around the perimeter to the left of the park. But, before I walked much futher another marker of some kind placed at the corner of the playground area caught my eye.

Play area at Smith Park

The marker is a plaque explaining the creation of the playground as having been donated to residents by the Roanoke Civitan Club nearly 15 years ago.

The park itself is very quaint, with a number of trees scattered all over to provide shade.

But, what else could I see if I was to backtrack slightly and instead continue on Wiley Drive?

That’s exactly what we’ll find out next time in Exploring Roanoke - The Roanoke River Greenway (Part 4).

Noke Novelties are interesting aspects, picturesque moments, and other quaint nuances of or about the Roanoke area.

Many if not all of us have ventured up to the Mill Mountain Star at one time or another. It’s very difficult to miss for residents and tourists alike.

But, there’s another marker in the form of a memorial that is just at the entrance to the Mill Mountain Park.

For years before I have traveled to the Star and had not even noticed the memorial, but on this particular visit I made a point to stop and check it out.

It’s a memorial for J.B. Fishburn and is best described by reading from words on the face:

Honoring

1865 J.B. Fishburn 1955

Pinoneer citizen, Publisher, Banker, Businessman, and Philantropist, he watched the tiny hamlet of Big Lick grow into the thriving town and city of Roanoke. He founded the Times-World Corporation, helped organize the First National Exchange Bank of Virginia and participated in numerous business and industrial ventures, ever keeping in mind the recreational needs of people.

Through his generosity and vision, he and his family contributed Mill Mountain, South Roanoke, Wasena, Lakewood, and Norwich parks to the City and Fairystone State Park to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In a final bequest he willed his lovely home and grounds “Mountain View” to the City for its park and recreational headquarters.

It was his dream to link the Blue Ridge Parkway with Mill Mountain, thus enabling Parkway visitors to share with local citizens the matchless view and to create here a great park for posterity.

In his memory and in appreciation for his many gifts, this scenic road joining the park and the city was gratefully dedicated as

THE J.B. FISHBURN PARKWAY
May 17, 1971

Erected by the City of Roanoke, June 24, 1975
*****

J.B. Fishburn Memorial on Mill Mountain, near the entrance to Mill Mountain Park. The road in the background leads up to the Star.

A week ago there was a heat wave and now the temperatures are very much back down to a normal range.

For the past couple days I’ve been waking up to crisp, but not cold, mornings. The high temperatures for the day have been around the low 80s, and the humidity hasn’t been much of a factor at all really.

This is the kind of spring season in Roanoke that I’m used to experiencing.

Now, if I could only find a way to leave the office and enjoy some of the beautiful weather…

Noke News explores parts of Roanoke by foot, equipped with a camera and a notepad, in hopes of learning something new. Perhaps you will too.

This is Part 2 in an Exploring Roanoke series that covers: the current (as of May, 2008) entire nearly 6 miles of the Roanoke River Greenway, Wasena Park, The Skate Park, Smith Park, Piedmont Park, and lots of scenery along the way.

(For a general introduction to the greenway system in Roanoke, you may want to first visit a previous post.)

Distance (Part 2): approx 1/2 mile

Last time, Part 1 ended at about the 1/2 mile mark as we continued traveling along the border of Wasena Park. The Roanoke River is to the left of the pathway, beyond a orange construction netting and at the bottom of the hill.

Up ahead is the Wasena Bridge and I can tell that the greenway will lead underneath. But, I also found a little park area nestled directly beneath the bridge.

Approaching the Wasena Bridge from the Roanoke River Greenway

The Skate Park

Below the Wasena Bridge, encased in high fencing, there is an area that’s been built by the city that’s dedicated for use by skateboarders. The support columns for the bridge are used to create ramps, and there are other railings and smaller ramps throughout the area.

There’s even a small set of bleachers outside the fence on the other side for onlookers or parents to sit and wait or watch.

The Skate Part in Roanoke underneath the Wasena Bridge

After passing under the Wasena Bridge, in order to stay on the actual greenway path, I will keep to the left. Just ahead is where the trail connects with Wiley Drive near the intersection with Winona Avenue.

I notice a bench for those needing a short break, and there are several more benches scatterred at various points along the greenway.

View of the Roanoke River Greenway

In the vicinity of this particular bench, I also saw a young tree with a small plaque in front. And upon a closer look I realized that this tree was part of the Roanoke Commemorative Tree Program, where residents can purchase a tree in memory of a friend or loved one and even have some input on where the tree is planted.

The First Bridge

By now, the roaring sound of the Roanoke River has become increasingly lounder and the water is in my sights. The first river overpass is just ahead.

Approaching a Roanoke River bridge on Wiley Drive

As I approach the bridge and begin walking a section of Wiley Drive I see that there’s a median that separate the 2 sides of the road. As I came to find out cars are only permitted on Wiley Drive when traveling South (the same direction we’re going). The road is one-way with no North bound or return traffic allowed.

So, if you walk on the right side in this direction you may have to keep a lookout for passing cars coming up from behind. But on the left side (traveling south) there is no access for automobiles.

While standing on the bridge I spent several moments looking out into the river that was flowing away from me. Then, I noticed a rather large part of a tree trunk had been lodged in some rocks just below and in front of my feet.

Of course I had to investigate a little bit further. So, I hopped down to some cement landing below and right next to the flowing water. The current was fairly strong, but the log was much more stubborn and was not about to budge.

Now, that’s some piece of driftwood.

Continuing onward we’re about to come upon the second park which is nestled on some open land in-between the river and railroad tracks.

In Exploring Roanoke - The Roanoke River Greenway (Part 3) we’ll discover this park and venture slightly off the greenway path in search of some more familiar wildlife scenery closer to the river.

Every now and then I put down the pen, pick up the camera, and leave a few pictures to do most of the writing for me…

Photos taken at various times from mid-May to mid-June 2008.

Deer spot me, then continue eating just off of Mill Mountain Parkway

The Roanoke River as seen from a bridge on Bennington Road

Beneath the bridge on Bennington Road, wood debris continues to collect at the support columns

A tree holds onto some remaining soil along the bank of a creek at Fishburn Park