Town mulls Greenway trail future options

By Melanie Marshall

Greenway discussions traveled through the regular Boone Town Council meeting on Thursday.

The first order of business was a request from the greenway, parks and gardens committee. The committee requested the council’s permission to pursue negotiations with the Optimist Club and Appalachian Regional Healthcare System to create a greenway connector from the Wellness Center through Optimistic Park on State Farm Road.

Council member Rennie Brantz asked for clarification on the request. “Is there a commitment of town money?” he asked.

Boone Public Works director Blake Brown was presenting the request on behalf of the committee. Brown explained the approval of negotiations was not a commitment of funds, only permission to pursue information regarding the connector.

Brown said a survey would be needed. The proposed connector would follow the river and cross State Farm at a drainage basin near the baseball fields.

The council unanimously approved the committee’s request to proceed with talks between entities involved.

A representative of the committee will report back to the council concerning the willingness and needs of the Optimist Club, ARHS and the greenway committee.

A second request from the greenway, parks and gardens committee followed. The committee recommended the town consider a memorial program for the greenway trail.

The memorial program would support amenities such as benches, plaques, trees and garden items to be placed in honor or memory.

Brown explained the idea arose as the committee discussed the recent death of Howard Love, the first landscaping director for the town. Members wished to place a memorial in Love’s name near the covered bridge on the greenway trail.

The council discussed the proposal taking into consideration the memorials would need to be limited.

A master plan of the greenway trail system would need to be created by the committee, showing where benches and trees could be placed.

Council members also posed questions regarding limitations on materials and ongoing cost in consideration of town crews who maintain the trails.

Mayor pro tem Lynne Mason suggested the request be sent back to the committee to develop a plan to present to the council.

Council member Janet Pepin also suggested the committee outline criteria on who would be eligible for a memorial, due to the limited space.

As an example, Pepin discussed people who may want to purchase a memorial in honor of a pet.

Brantz said the memorial program should not be a fundraiser, and money taken in should be spent on the honorary items only.

The committee is set to establish a master plan and criteria to present to the council for further consideration.
In a separate motion, council approved a memorial to be placed in honor of Howard Love.

A plaque will be placed on the covered bridge.

The motion passed unanimously.