Asheville’s Recovery Efforts for Parks Damaged by Hurricane Helene Continue
Residents of Asheville are being invited to voice their opinions on the future of their parks, as the city embarks on a slow but steady recovery process for several parks devastated by Hurricane Helene, notably Azalea Park and a series of parks along the French Broad River.
An open house scheduled at Asheville Middle School on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. will provide a platform for community members to contribute their ideas. Additionally, a survey is available until December 19 for further community input.
According to D. Tyrell McGirt, Asheville’s parks and recreation director, the restoration projects are progressing more slowly compared to other parks like Richmond Hill Park due to the significant costs and complexities involved. The damage inflicted by Helene on the parks system amounts to $25 million.
The city’s plans hinge on federal funding, including contributions from FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and a $225 million CBDG-DR grant provided by HUD.
“It’s going to take a while to get all the public engagement and get all the design elements incorporated in these really expensive build back projects,” McGirt stated. “We’re talking several years.”
The recovery projects have been divided into two main areas: the Azalea Parks along the Swannanoa River in East Asheville, and the French Broad Riverfront, which includes Carrier Park, French Broad River Park, Amboy Riverfront Park, and Jean Webb Park, as well as their associated greenways and trails. The city has enlisted contractors OLIN and Sasaki to assist in these projects.
Currently, both projects are in the preliminary design phase. Following the conclusion of public input, the city will advance to the design phase, expected to run through 2026 and into early 2027. Construction for Azalea Park is anticipated to commence in 2028, while a start date for the French Broad River parks is yet to be determined.
