Downtown, Parks and Recreation Priorities

The Town of Blacksburg is working to develop priorities to enhance downtown, parks, open space, and recreational facilities and amenities. Identifying the most important and necessary projects is critical to addressing budget constraints and competing needs.

Downtown

• Respondents were happy with the recent investments in the Downtown streetscape.
• They would like the Town to prioritize programs and infrastructure that enhance the Downtown’s retail environment and increasing access to convenient, affordable, and accessible parking.

Trails

• Respondents were happy with the investments made in the trail network.
• They would like the Town to prioritize maintenance of existing trails and sidewalks and strategic investments in new trails and sidewalks that connect local destinations, public facilities, and amenities.

Parks

• Respondents were happiest with the park system if they live near a Town park or greenspace and also appreciate the Town's investment made in the Brush Mountain Trail network.
• They would like the Town to prioritize investment in new parks in areas with fewer parks and green space, including Downtown and the south and west of Town.

Playgrounds

• Respondents noted how much they liked the new Hand and Hand playground.
• They would like the Town to prioritize maintenance, repair, and replacement of park and playground infrastructure and greater investment in new playground equipment and recreational amenities in the Town’s larger parks.

Aquatic Center

• Many respondents appreciate the aquatic center staff, but most noted the need to upgrade and expand the existing facility.
• They would like the Town to prioritize upgrades to address age, cleanliness, smell, lighting, and optimization of use and an expansion of existing or construction of a new facility with an outdoor pool, dedicated lap lanes, lessons, a therapy pool, and recreational swimming and play.

Athletic Facilities

• Many respondents noted the need for higher quality and expanded athletic and recreational facilities to meet the needs of the Town’s growing population.
• They would like the Town to prioritize maintenance, repair, and improvement of most existing indoor and outdoor recreational and athletic facilities and strategic investments in expanded athletic fields and courts for active recreation, particularly youth sports.
• They also would like to see the development of a new indoor recreational facility.

Programming

• Some respondents expressed satisfaction with existing downtown events and recreational programming.
• Others noted a desire to see the Town diversify and expand both downtown events and recreational programming, while recognizing this is difficult to achieve with the space constraints of existing facilities.

The results of the full report can be found here. The report also includes information on what the Town is currently and planning to do to address citizen comments. Stay tuned for more details on all the great work to come!