By Aila Boyd
The Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission and the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission have hired a longtime city and trails planner from Illinois to help guide regional greenway efforts.
Molly Maxwell, AICP, has accepted the position of planner III: recreation and Roanoke Valley greenway coordinator. She joins the regional commission after working as a city and trails planner for the city of Carbondale, Illinois.
Officials said Maxwell’s hiring will help maintain momentum in greenway connectivity, planning and project development across the region.
“Molly brings the valuable mix of planning experience and on-the-ground trail project work we need as we move into the next phase of the Roanoke Valley greenway network,” said Barry Trent, chair of the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission. “Her experience securing funding and coordinating multi-jurisdictional trail efforts will be an asset as we work with our localities on priorities like the greenway 10-year plan update and an upcoming economic impact study that will help quantify the value of our greenway investments.”
Maxwell has nine years of experience in community planning, active transportation and trail infrastructure. During her more than six years with Carbondale, she worked on general planning, land development and active transportation initiatives. She also helped secure more than $6 million for greenways, trails and related projects.
Her experience includes coordinating trail and greenway efforts, including work on the Saluki Greenway.
“Molly’s background in active transportation, trail systems and community planning will strengthen our ability to support the recreation planning work we’re building across the region,” said Jeremy Holmes, executive director of the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission. “As planner III, she’ll coordinate greenway priorities while also helping RVARC assist member localities — from Franklin County to the Alleghany Highlands — with recreation planning and related projects tied to community development, tourism and outdoor economy opportunities.”
Maxwell said her interest in outdoor recreation began after participating in an outdoor leadership program following college and has continued throughout her career.
In her free time, she enjoys biking and hiking with her husky, Allie.
Maxwell is scheduled to begin her new role April 7.
