Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte says his involvement with improvements to the Roanoke River date back to when he worked for a former member of Congress, the late Caldwell Butler. “There were flood problems. I met with local business leaders. They started the planning for what has become this flood reduction project.”
In the late 1990’s as a Congressman himself, Goodlatte helped secure the original 64 million dollars in federal funding that was used to widen cuts in the river to better hold floodwaters – money that was also used to construct the first portions of the Roanoke River Greenway.
Fast forward to last month, when Goodlatte appeared along the banks of the river on South Jefferson Street near the Honeytree preschool center and the new Starbucks, as plans for a kayak launch ramp were detailed. Most of the $80,000 or so needed to build that ramp are in place; but there is a caveat – it must be built by April to avoid the mating season for the endangered log perch fish that inhabits the river.
The project is one of several small boat ramps envisioned for the Roanoke River “Blueway” that would stretch from the Montgomery County line to Explore Park and perhaps one day to Smith Mountain Lake.
In 1992 Goodlatte’s predecessor, Jim Olin, handed him a folder on the Roanoke River flood reduction project, which included the bench-cuts that made the greenway possible – the urban footpath that has led to an explosion in the use of outdoor amenities in the valley. Goodlatte has taken part in a number of floats down the river as part of an effort to promote the blueway.
“I think this is a really exciting project,” said Goodlatte last month at the event to note progress on the kayak launch. “This river has gone from being a drainage ditch for industries in the last century to a centerpiece of outdoor activity in the city today. I think it’s something that will bring people from far and wide to enjoy the recreation here [and] also maybe to bring a business here – or their family.”
Aaron Ewert is a project manager for the company that built the adjacent South 16 mixed used development and will build the kayak ramp. Last month Ewart said that work will get underway as soon as the permitting is in place. That work involves the ramp down to the river itself, site grading, a parking lot and a rack where kayaks can be locked up securely.
The Roanoke Regional Partnership and its Roanoke Outside Foundation arm is helping to raise the last ten thousand dollars needed to fully fund the kayak ramp, which will then be turned over to Roanoke City parks and recreation to manage. “We’re going to look to do it again in about another six months down the river [at another launch site] and raise the money again to build more kayak ramps for this region,” added Ewert, whose father is former Roanoke City Manager Bern Ewert.
Aaron Ewert says people are “really excited” about the kayak launch and eager to help fund it, even in small amounts.
Also on hand at the event last month was Roanoke Mountain Adventures, based in Wasena, which hopes to benefit by increasing the part of their business that is renting kayaks and canoes so that people can float down the Roanoke River to a point where they can be shuttled back to their starting point.
“We believe that the kayak launch is not only going to bring people together but get people outdoors – and hopefully off their phones,” said Ewert. “If we can do that [build ramps along the entire blueway] then I think we’re going to have one of the most incredible outdoor adventures anywhere in this country.”
By Gene Marrano
