| Roanoke, VA — The City of
Roanoke, in conjunction with
the Hurt Park Neighborhood
Alliance and Hurt Park
Elementary School, will hold
a Hurt Park May Day &
Revitalization Kickoff on
Saturday, May 3, at Hurt Park
Elementary School, 1525 Salem
Ave. The event starts with a
2- and 4-mile Walk/Run
beginning at 8:30 a.m., and a
1-K for kids starting at
9:45. The May Day festivities
will run from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m.
Children will enjoy
activities such as the
bicycle rodeo and helmet
giveaway, sack races, face
painting, moon bounce, fire
trucks, and more. The event
includes food, music, and
dance performances. This
official kickoff for the
comprehensive revitalization
initiative currently under
way for Hurt Park will also
give participants a chance to
learn more about job
training, healthy lifestyle
choices, the city library’s
Oral History Project,
economic development, and
other plans for improving
this historic neighborhood.
The development of the
Neighborhood Revitalization
Strategy Area plan (NRSA) for
the Hurt Park community
provides a unique opportunity
to promote the long-term
strength and stability of an
older Roanoke neighborhood
with residential, commercial,
industrial and historical
uses. This plan identifies
strategies to revitalize Hurt
Park which include increasing
homeownership rates through
rehabilitation and new
construction, rehabilitating
owner-occupied housing,
enhancing neighborhood
business opportunities, and
promoting employment
opportunities. In
coordination with the Roanoke
Redevelopment and Housing
Authority (RRHA), the City of
Roanoke continues to forge a
partnership with businesses,
community groups, and
residents to address
community revitalization
through a comprehensive
strategy. The NRSA-related
activities in Hurt Park are
expected to extend through
2009-2010.
Organizers of the Hurt Park
May Day & Revitalization
Kickoff wish to thank the
following sponsors of this
event: Ferris, Eakin & Thomas
P.C.; RJK Services Inc.;
BB&T; the Bingham Family;
Boxy Swedish Auto Care;
Breakell Inc. General
Contractors; First Citizens
Bank; Kroger; Member One
Federal Credit Union; Park
Place Realtors; Perna’s
Entertainment; Roanoke City
Public Schools; and Virginia
Department of Health.
For more information, please
contact Jimmy Cook, president
of Hurt Park Neighborhood
Alliance, at 344-5619; or
Angie Williamson, Department
of Neighborhood Services, at
853-5647. |
