Asheville begins early design on rebuilt riverfront parks, seeks public input
The City of Asheville held a public open house on December 8 as it begins early design work to rebuild several riverfront parks and greenway sections damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. Residents can also share feedback through an online survey open through December 19, a step that will shape multi year reconstruction that relies on federal disaster funding and will affect recreation, access and flood resilience across Buncombe County.
City planners and consultants invited residents to an open house at Asheville Middle School on December 8, as the city moves into early design phases to restore parks and greenways destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene. The meeting, held from 6 to 8 p.m., and an online survey open through December 19 are part of a public engagement process intended to guide design priorities for two major project groupings.
The first grouping, called Azalea Parks, runs along the Swannanoa River in East Asheville. The second grouping covers the French Broad Riverfront and includes Carrier Park, French Broad River Park, Amboy Riverfront Park and Jean Webb Park. These sites sustained extensive damage to trails, playgrounds, river access points and vegetation, severing important greenway connections that residents use for commuting, recreation and small business access.
“The City of Asheville is slowly moving forward on repairs to several major parks that were destroyed by Hurricane Helene.” That statement underscores the cautious pace planners expect, driven by the complexity of restoring riverfront landscapes while improving flood resilience and meeting regulatory requirements.
Rebuilding will be expensive and technically demanding. The city expects to rely on federal programs including FEMA, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding. Those sources require detailed planning, environmental review and compliance steps that extend schedules. City officials say the projects remain in early design and that actual construction will unfold over multiple years.
For Buncombe County residents the work has immediate and long term implications. Restored parks and greenways will reconnect neighborhoods, bolster outdoor recreation and support local businesses that depend on riverfront visitors. At the same time, design choices will determine how well the riverfront withstands future storms and how accessible green spaces are for residents of all ages.
Public input gathered at the open house and through the survey will be folded into preliminary designs. Residents seeking to influence priorities for amenities, access and flood mitigation are encouraged to participate before the December 19 survey deadline, as the choices made now will shape the riverfront for years to come.
