Asheville Unveils New Park Designs, Seeks Public Feedback
After more than 18 months of waiting, Asheville is taking significant steps to restore its parks, which were heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene. This Saturday, February 28, marks a pivotal moment as the city introduces fresh design proposals for two vital park systems.
The presentation of the designs will take place at A-B Tech’s Ivy Building between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., featuring three potential plans for the French Broad River Park system and two for Azalea Park. The event is structured to include city staff presentations and various stations displaying artistic and technical renderings of the proposed designs.
Though the city has refrained from releasing the designs in advance, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation Peter Wall notes that the plans draw heavily from a community survey conducted at the close of 2025.
Survey findings indicate a strong community interest in restoring the swimming pool at Azalea Park and reviving the Carrier Park Velodrome. Additionally, there is a pronounced demand for more flood-resilient infrastructure across both park systems.
Wall emphasizes the importance of public input during the event, asking locals to consider, “You know, what do you like about some of these features, about their locations? What don’t you like? Are there things that maybe our consultant team missed that you were expecting to see?”
Hurricane Helene inflicted approximately $25 million in damages to Asheville’s park system. While parks such as Richmond Hill have already reopened, the riverfront parks face a more complex and costly recovery, according to D. Tyrell McGirt, the city’s parks and recreation director.
Funding for these repairs will rely on federal aid, including FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and a substantial $225 million Helene recovery grant.
Wall reports ongoing dialogue with FEMA about securing funds for the restoration efforts, stating, “We feel like we’re on an aggressive timeline to get obligations from FEMA to support the project.”
Starting Saturday, the proposed plans will be made available online, and the city will gather public feedback on the park proposals until March 16. This input will be crucial in shaping a comprehensive plan, with the design phase expected to extend into early 2027.
