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Roanoke County moves greenway coordination to regional commission; board approves first readings
Summary
Supervisors on June 23 approved first readings to shift administrative responsibility for the Roanoke Valley greenway coordinator role to the Roanoke Valley Regional Commission and to repeal the 2016 intergovernmental agreement that established the prior Greenway Commission; the change reconstitutes the commission as an advisory body and introduces a new regional greenway coordinator.
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors on June 23 approved first readings of two ordinances to change how the regional greenway program is administered, moving coordination and staffing supervision to the Roanoke Valley Regional Commission (RVRC).
County Administrator Richard Kwood explained the change will fold the greenway coordinator role into RVRC’s staffing structure, reconstitute the Greenway Commission as an advisory body to the RVRC and keep greenway ownership and maintenance with existing localities. "This shifts all the administrative responsibilities to the RVRC," Kwood said, adding that the county expects modest cost savings by sharing staff support and fiscal-agent services.
Citizen representative Barry Trent, chair of the local Greenway Commission, introduced Molly Maxwell, the RVRC’s new regional recreation planner and greenway coordinator. Maxwell, who recently joined the regional commission from Carbondale, Illinois, thanked the board and said she looked forward to supporting greenway development region-wide.
Board members asked whether the RVRC had capacity and funding to take on the role; staff said project execution would remain with county staff and emphasized the change was intended to be an efficiency to provide more staff support and career pathing for the coordinator position.
The board approved first readings and scheduled second readings for July 14, 2026. No change in property ownership or maintenance responsibilities was indicated; payments to the regional commission will follow existing budget processes.
