Editing Roanoke, Virginia (section)

==Parks and recreation==
There are 60 parks within Roanoke's city limits, and its parks and recreation department is responsible for nearly 14,000 acres of public land.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roanoke Parks and Recreation |title=About Us |url=https://www.playroanoke.com/about-us/ |access-date=July 3, 2023 |website=Roanoke Parks And Recreation |language=en-US |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703205718/https://www.playroanoke.com/about-us/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Highland Park in the historic [[Old Southwest, Roanoke, Virginia|Old Southwest]] neighborhood is the city's oldest, having been purchased in 1902 when the former farm was still distant from the settled part of the city.{{r|Barnes-1968|p=370}} Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke became the city's second in 1911.{{r|Barnes-1968|p=370}} It features a [[Magnolia liliiflora|Japanese magnolia]] tree that was acquired by [[Matthew C. Perry|Commodore Matthew Perry]] during an expedition to Japan and donated in 1857 to the former owner of the park.<ref name=Bradburn1>{{cite news |last=Bradburn |first=Bridget |date=March 28, 2011 |title=Magnolia in Elmwood has Japanese heritage |work=The Roanoke Times |page=5B}}</ref> {{As of|2023}} Elmwood holds the city's main library branch as well as an art walk and a 4,000-seat [[Amphitheatre|amphitheater]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roanoke Parks and Recreation |title=Elmwood Park |url=https://www.playroanoke.com/parks-facilities/elmwood-park/ |access-date=July 3, 2023 |website=Roanoke Parks And Recreation |language=en-US |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703205718/https://www.playroanoke.com/parks-facilities/elmwood-park/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Roanoke features an extensive network of paved [[Greenway (landscape)|greenways]] for walkers, runners, and cyclists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roanoke Valley Greenways |url=https://www.visitroanokeva.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/greenways/ |publisher=Virginia's Blue Ridge |access-date=May 4, 2023 |website=www.visitroanokeva.com |language=en-us |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505142656/https://www.visitroanokeva.com/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/greenways/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Though the idea for a publicly owned greenway system can be traced back to a 1907 [[Comprehensive planning|comprehensive plan]] for the city,<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.roanokeva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/710/1907-Roanoke-Comprehensive-Plan |title=Remodeling Roanoke: A report to the committee on civic improvement by John Nolen, Landscape Architect |last=Nolen |first=John |year=1907 |access-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505142654/https://www.roanokeva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/710/1907-Roanoke-Comprehensive-Plan |url-status=live}}</ref> it was not until 1995 that an intergovernmental committee was formed to plan and develop the project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – Greenways |url=https://greenways.org/about-the-greenways/history/ |publisher=Pathfinders for Greenways |website=greenways.org |access-date=May 5, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505142657/https://greenways.org/about-the-greenways/history/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Since that time, {{convert|26|mi}} of greenways have been built across the Roanoke Valley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roanoke Valley Greenways |url=https://www.virginia.org/listing/roanoke-valley-greenways/6743/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=www.virginia.org |language=en-us |archive-date=May 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505142654/https://www.virginia.org/listing/roanoke-valley-greenways/6743/ |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2023|post=,}} the longest continuous stretch runs {{convert|12|mi}} along the Roanoke River from Salem through Roanoke City to [[Vinton, Virginia|Vinton]].<ref name=Dehr1>{{cite news |last=Dehr |first=Cooper |date=July 29, 2023 |title='Bridge the Gap' connects Roanoke greenway to Salem |work=The Roanoke Times |page=1A}}</ref> Roanoke County is also in the planning stages of extending that same stretch westward into Montgomery County.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=October 19, 2022 |title=Roanoke County to hold meetings on extending greenway; more . . . |url=http://cardinalnews.org/2022/10/19/roanoke-county-to-hold-meetings-on-extending-greenway-more/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Cardinal News |language=en-US |archive-date=May 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510181040/https://cardinalnews.org/2022/10/19/roanoke-county-to-hold-meetings-on-extending-greenway-more/ |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2023|post=,}} Roanoke contained over {{convert|100|mi|km}} of trails and greenways.<ref name=Shipley>{{Cite web |last=Shipley |first=Kaylee |date=August 26, 2023 |title=Roanoke Parks & Recreation to host a celebration on National Public Lands Day |url=https://wset.com/news/local/roanoke-parks-recreation-virginia-celebrating-over-100-miles-of-trails-greenways-on-national-public-lands-day-august-2023 |access-date=December 21, 2023 |website=wset.com |language=en-US}}</ref>