‘Green Space’ Vital to Economy
February 22, 2010 • By Josh Hahn,
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HARRISONBURG, Va. — Harrisonburg wants to invigorate its economy and businesses to ultimately become a place where more JMU students would want to live after graduation.
This was one of the goals city residents discussed during Thursday’s summit on the economy. Hosted by the Fairfield Center and created by Mayor Kai Degner, discussions focused on the theme “Strengthening Local Business and Economy.” Topics included credit, social media and management strategies.
The summit brought together Harrisonburg residents with vested interest in the city’s economy. Residents were also encouraged to attend to learn more about local business and their city’s future progress.
During the day’s final session, Bibb Frazier, talk convener and vice president of Frazier Quarry, Inc., described Harrisonburg’s future as encouraging and that there was “hope on the horizon” despite the current economic recession.
The summit revolved heavily around public and private cooperation and its role in fixing the current lack of local “green space” — parks and other vegetative scenery in the downtown Harrisonburg area.
The problem is not just a lack of foliage, because there are several parks but they are on Harrisonburg’s outskirts.
“We have a huge acre-per-population ratio,” Frazier said. “However, the problem is you have to get in a car and drive to it.”
Some of the discussion points addressed a lack of public interest, JMU’s expansion with new real estate, and whether green space should be a part of public or private domain.
Matt Robertson, president of The Stratford Companies, Inc., believes the rooftop garden industry is a great way to create green space on private property. Rooftop-membrane companies are up-and-coming and could also be used on public buildings like the hospital, he said.
Most of the 22 participants agreed on the need for alternative green spaces in addition to these gardens. Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance promotions manager Alexis Morehouse said true green space needs to be accessible to the public and easy to utilize.
The vagueness of the term “green space” meant that discussion flowed back and forth through ideas other than just parks and recreation. Talk of water as an aesthetically pleasing scene was brought up, as well as man-made cement décor like plazas.
Talk also centered around improving Blacks Run, the only natural water feature in Harrisonburg. Improvements included talk of a “visionary” Blacks Run Greenway.
The city hopes to take down any superfluous bridges crossing Blacks Run and place signs with historic information along the creek.
Students and city residents were encouraged to participate in the 13th Annual Blacks Run/Downtown CleanUp Day on April 10. Last year, more than 375 volunteers picked up more than 3 tons of garbage.
“If Harrisonburg wants to improve itself, it’s there,” Frazier said. “I think it’s really important that businesses meet and developers engage.”
Contact Josh Hahn at hahnja@jmu.edu
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