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Asheville Parks Reopen After Hurricane Helene Damage

Families enjoying the restored park in Asheville, North Carolina

News Summary

Several parks in Asheville, North Carolina, have reopened after extensive evaluations and recovery efforts following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Parks including Amboy Riverfront Park and Wilma Dykeman Greenway are now accessible, providing a boost to local businesses. Collaborative efforts between Asheville Parks and Recreation and Asheville Middle School contributed to restoring the areas, with students creating seed bombs to aid in recovery. However, challenges remain as other parks in the state are still closed due to ongoing recovery efforts.

Asheville, North Carolina – Multiple parks in Asheville, N.C., have recently reopened after undergoing damage evaluations due to Hurricane Helene. The parks now open to the public include Amboy Riverfront Park, Craven Street Trailhead Park, Craven Street Bridge Boating Access Area, Jean Webb Park, and Wilma Dykeman Greenway. In addition, portions of Carrier Park’s picnic shelter and the French Broad River Greenway are also partially accessible.

The reopening of these parks is anticipated to provide a significant boost to local business owners and artists, particularly those in the nearby River Arts District. The recovery efforts involved strong collaboration between Asheville Parks and Recreation and Asheville Middle School, showcasing the community’s dedication to rebuilding efforts.

Students from Asheville Middle School participated in restoration initiatives by creating seed bombs filled with native wild meadow seeds to help address sediment issues impacting the French Broad River. This community engagement was instrumental in the park recovery process, which took nearly eight months to ensure safety and compliance following Hurricane Helene’s damaging effects.

The park recovery process included not only assessing damages but also exploring FEMA’s potential reimbursement options to facilitate funding. Asheville resident Shannon Widiker expressed appreciation for community efforts in revitalizing park spaces post-hurricane.

While many parks in Asheville have reopened, the broader context reveals more significant challenges across North Carolina’s state park system. Following extensive hurricane damage, thirteen state parks and recreation areas remain closed, including popular locations such as Chimney Rock State Park and Grandfather Mountain State Park, with anticipated closures extending through October 31, 2024.

The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation has been actively involved in emergency and rescue operations following Hurricane Helene. Concurrently, the city of Asheville is in the initial stages of planning to reconstruct the park system along the French Broad River. A Request for Qualifications has been posted by the city to seek design services aimed at creating a resilient riverfront.

Initial assessments indicate estimated damages to city-owned properties near the French Broad River could exceed $25 million. The project’s comprehensive rebuilding effort is projected to span over two years to complete and will cover a project area of five linear miles of the riverfront, extending from upstream near Hominy Creek to downstream near the Jeff Bowen Bridge.

As part of the planning efforts for the park recovery initiative, community input has been a critical component, ensuring that the final design reflects the needs and desires of local residents. The city remains committed to restoring and enhancing public spaces affected by Hurricane Helene, working diligently toward sustainable solutions for the area’s parks and recreation facilities.