Roanoke Kiwanis Club's signature project. We are developing a two-and-a-half acre nature park on City-owned property adjacent to the Kiwanis Centennial Playground located in an underserved neighborhood. The site is on Horton's Branch, a tributary of the Roanoke River, in the 2700 block of Melrose Avenue adjacent to Forest Park Academy and Melrose Library. 

The project will provide flood reduction, a place for the community to enjoy nature, improved water quality for the endangered Roanoke Logperch, conservation education, increased biodiversity, and strengthened environmental stewardship. The project will transform an expansive lawn and polluted stream into a Nature Park, and replace the area with pollinator wildflower/educational gardens, wetlands, and other park amenities. It will improve water absorption and filtration and eliminate runoff of toxins into the stream.

Nature Park activities will include neighborhood engagement efforts to reduce litter/pollutants to stimulate ownership of the park, a youth conservation corps to monitor water quality and lead neighborhood clean ups, and outdoor classroom events linked with Virginia schools Standards of Learning. Outcomes will include improvement in water quality in Hortons Branch, Roanoke Logperch population stabilization, increases in water conservation knowledge/stewardship, and enjoyment of an urban oasis featuring nature’s beauty. Community engagement is a critical element of success for this project. Partners include Roanoke City's Public Schools, the City Stormwater Division, the City Department of Parks and Recreation, Roanoke City Public Libraries, Western Virginia Water Authority, Clean Valley Council, Goodwill Industries of the Valley, other nonprofits, businesses, faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations, and Virginia Tech students and advisers.