Ten local nonprofits and volunteer groups were awarded tens of thousands of dollars to improve outdoor amenities in the Roanoke Valley.

ROANOKE, Va. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a 200% spike in use of outdoor amenities in the Roanoke area. Now, a local nonprofit wants to raise money to repair, maintain and improve outdoors spaces so they arent worn down. We run the risk of loving our outdoor assets to death, said Roanoke Outside Foundation Director Pete Eshelman. The foundation started Project Outside, a fundraising campaign aimed at raising money to benefit outdoor amenities in the region. Ask yourself, How often are you using the trails, the rivers, the greenways? And then try to put a dollar value on that, said Eshelman.

ROANOKE, Va. – The annual GO Fest in Roanoke will still be happening despite coronavirus, but it will look a little different this year. Officials say the festival won’t be at River’s Edge — it will be replaced with smaller, socially distanced events during the weekend of Oct. 16-18. “We want it to be a weekend where everyone makes it a point to do something outside,” said Julia Boas, events director for the Roanoke Outside Foundation. “More than ever we need to gather outside, physically distant but socially connected.,” said Kait Pedigo, Roanoke Parks and Recreation special events supervisor. All proceeds raised will go to Project Outside, which is a fund created to support outdoor capital improvement projects, maintain outdoor facilities and help launch and support outdoor businesses.