Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts City Council-Appointed Boards & Commissions
News & Current Events
SUMMER OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CAMPS
Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts has a few spaces left in the summer outdoor Adventure Camps. For more information or to register for an activity, contact Christen McNamara at 828-251-4029, or email outdoorprograms@ashevillenc.gov. Fees are listed for Asheville city residents (R) and for non-residents (NR). Camps meet at the East Asheville Recreation Center, 906 Tunnel Rd. Go to Outdoor Recreation Programs Now.
ANNUAL CALENDAR TEA AT BURTON STREET RECREATION CENTER
Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will host its annual Calendar Tea fundraiser at Burton Street Recreation Center, 134 Burton Street, on Saturday, April 28, from 12 – 2 p.m. Enjoy a unique, “all-you-can-eat” buffet style meal. Select your dinner from one of 12 different tables, representing each month of the calendar. Entry fee is $5 per person per plate, with all proceeds to benefit center programs. For more information, contact the center at 828-254-1942 or burtonstreetrec.center@ashevillenc.gov.
ADULT SOFTBALL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Adult Softball League is back for the spring/summer season! Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will host organizational meetings on Thursday, March 22, at the Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 32 George Washington Carver.
6:30 p.m. Men’s teams
8:00 p.m. Women’s and Hospitality teams
Registration packets will be available to team representatives at the meeting. Attendance is highly recommended for teams interested in joining the league – space is limited.
Adult Softball offers open divisions based on the skill level of participants and the number of registered teams. ASA rules are used, with a 12-game league regular season and a double elimination tournament at the end.
Season begins in April and runs through July. Games are played at various fields in the Asheville area on Monday-Thursday evenings, and on Sunday afternoons for the hospitality league. Entry fee is $600 per team.
For more information, contact Bryan Fish at 828-251-4026 or bfish@ashevillenc.gov.
WNC NATURE CENTER TO BE CLOSED FOR WORKDAY PROGRAM
Monday, January 30 through Wednesday, February 1, 2012 and
Monday, February 20 through Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The WNC Nature Center will be closed to the public Monday, January 30 through Wednesday, February 1, 2012 and Monday, February 20 through Wednesday, February 22, 2012 for the annual Workday Program.
As in previous years, the Workday Program allows the WNC Nature Center staff and volunteers to work on a variety of projects without disturbing the animals or the guests. This year, the WNC Nature Center staff plans to add a new climbing structure in the popular cougar exhibit, renovate an outdated recycling storage area into a new children’s garden, and clean out the old elephant house to create more storage space.
The Nature Center invites volunteers to assist in these enhancements. If you are interested or would like additional information please call Keith Mastin, Curator of Education at (828) 259-8082.
For more information including directions and special programs visit the WNC Nature Center website at www.wncnaturecenter.com or contact Chris Gentile, Director of the Western North Carolina Nature Center, at 828-259-8090.
The WNC Nature Center is part of the City of Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department and features over 250 animals native to the Southern Appalachians including red wolves, otters, birds of prey, black bears, and reptiles. The Nature Center is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and welcomes over 92,000 visitors annually.
CITY OF ASHEVILLE ISSUES CALL FOR ARTISTS TO CREATE BELE CHERE 2012 FESTIVAL ARTWORK
Submissions due by Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 5 p.m.
The City of Asheville is accepting submissions for the official artwork of the 2012 Bele Chere Festival. Submissions must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. The winning artist will receive a $1000 honorarium and the opportunity to appear at the festival. The winning artwork embodies the spirit of Asheville and the festival and will be used for a variety of promotional items including the official 2012 Bele Chere Festival posters, t-shirts, marketing, and more.
Submission guidelines and application forms are available online at www.belecherefestival.org or by contacting Stacey Wood at (828) 259-5800 or swood@ashevillenc.gov .
Information about the 2012 Bele Chere Festival is available online at www.belecherefestival.com or by calling the City of Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department at 828-259-5800.
Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Co-Sponsored Youth Baseball & Softball 2012 Spring Season
Spring is just around the corner, which means it is time to register for Youth Baseball and Softball, co-sponsored by the Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department. Download more information here.
Comedy Improv Class
Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will host Comedy Improv classes on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month, starting February 8, from 6:30-7:30pm at the Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Drive. Adults and children 6 years and older can participate in hilarious group activities in a supportive and positive environment. Leave class feeling renewed, refreshed and with a changed outlook on life! Cost: $1.00 per session.
For more information or to register, contact Kim Kennedy at 828-253-2714 or montfordr@ashevillenc.gov.
City Services and Weather Update Links:
City of Asheville Home Page
City of Asheville Facebook Page
City of Asheville Twitter
Partnerships
Asheville Parks and Greenways Foundation
Friends of the Nature Center
Pack Square Conservancy
"The Arts -Ask for More" - Americans for the Arts
Other Park Systems Historic Sites in the Asheville Region
Blue Ridge Parkway
Buncombe County Parks, Greenways & Recreation
National Parks Service
National Register of Historic Places
NC State Parks
Agency Accreditation CAPRA Standards
Detailed information on each of the 155 standards
Charged with providing high quality recreation services and experiences, an increasing number of park and recreation agencies across the country are applying for the Agency Accreditation Program through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).
CAPRA administers a rigorous program based on self-assessment and peer review using national standards of best practice to better promote the quality of agency services and delivery systems.
Agency accreditation is available to all entities administering park and recreation systems, including municipalities, townships, counties, special districts and regional authorities, councils of government and schools.
Agency accreditation is voluntary, but an essential piece to producing quality environments for communities to play, live and grow.
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Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department
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The Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department is dedicated to enhancing your quality of life by providing diverse cultural and recreational experiences.
Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department is The First Nationally Accredited Municipal Parks & Recreation Department and an NRPA Gold Medal Award Winner (2002).
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Department Overview
Open spaces, parks, recreation and cultural arts provide opportunities for living, learning and leading a full and productive life. Parks and recreation benefit individuals and neighborhoods while having a positive impact on economic growth and environmental preservation. Asheville Parks and Recreation maintains 54 public parks, 6 miles of greenways, 11 community centers, numerous programs for youth, seniors and outdoor enthusiasts, a comprehensive athletics program, and many facilities that provide resources for a range of activities.
Speakers Bureau
Some department staff are available to speak to community groups on a variety of topics. These may include: Park Planning and Development, Public Art, Recreation Programs, and Senior Programs, to name a few. To request a speaker, call Frank McGowan, Superintendent of Business Services, at 259-5811 or send an e-mail to fmcgowan@ashevillenc.gov. Please be specific in your request and provide at least a month of lead time for staff to adjust their schedules accordingly.
Public Comment
Bid Requests and RFP's
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Rental of Tents and Accessories for 3-day Special Event-Including Set-up & Teardown
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Fence & Bike Rack - Rental of chainlink fencing & bike rack for 3-day Special Event- Including Delivery
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Generator - Rental of Generators for 3-day Special Event-Including Set-Up and On-call Service
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Golf Cart/Gator - Rental of Golf Carts for 3-day Special Event-Including Delivery
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Ice - Supply Bagged Ice and Refrigerated Storage for 3-day Special Event-Including Delivery
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Laminated Pass - Provide Quantity of Laminated Passes for Special Event
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Rental of Port-a-Johns, graywater tanks and Handwashing stations for 3-day Special Event-Including delivery, service and Pick-up
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Power Wash - Provide Powerwashing Services following 3-day Special Event in Specified Areas
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Security - Provide Security Services throughout 3-day Special Event
RFP - Bele Chere 2012 Small Equipment - Rental of Light Towers and Fork Trucks for 3-day Special Event-Including Delivery, Pick-up and On-Call Service
Bele Chere 2012 Logistics Needs
The City of Asheville Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Arts Department is accepting bids for the logistics needs of the 2012 Bele Chere Festival. This includes rental of tents, tables, chairs, generators, portajons, small equipment, fencing, golf carts, ice, laminated passes, powerwashing services, and private security. Proposals will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on February 3rd, 2012. http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Departments/Purchasing/RequestsforBidsProposals.aspx
The City of Asheville Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Arts Department is accepting bids for the logistics needs of the 2012 Bele Chere Festival. This includes rental of tents, tables, chairs, generators, portajons, small equipment, fencing, golf carts, ice, laminated passes, powerwashing services, and private security. Proposals will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on February 3, 2012.
Radio Media Sponsor
The City of Asheville Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Arts Department is accepting proposals to become its official radio media partner. This includes sponsorship of Department-produced events such as July 4th & Bele Chere and Department facilities such as the WNC Nature Center. Proposals will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on January 20th, 2012. http://www.ashevillenc.gov/Departments/Purchasing/RequestsforBidsProposals.aspx
Message from the Director
The benefits of parks and recreation can be a walk in the woods. It can be the sense of exhilaration for the child who hits the ball with a bat for the very first time. It
can be the positive feeling of exhaustion that volunteers feel at the end of the day. Or it might be the sense of connection people feel when gathered with others to enjoy a fireworks display. So, whether you are an avid participant or occasional observer of parks and recreation, enjoy the benefits. Explore the links in this section to learn more about Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts.
Contact Information:
Roderick Simmons, Director
Main office location: Asheville City Hall, Fourth Floor, 70 Court Plaza
Mailing address: P.O. Box 7148, Asheville, NC 28802
Phone: (828) 259-5800
E-mail:parks@ashevillenc.gov
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Department History
The City of Asheville began park and recreation services in the late 1890s with the construction of Riverside, Montford and Aston Parks. Shortly after, Recreation Park, McCormick Field and the Municipal Golf Course were added to the system. With a growing park system, the City developed the Parks and Playgrounds Division under the Public Works Department.
Augusta L. Barnett was appointed the first director of the Parks and Recreation Department in 1956. Although Barnett made significant improvements to recreation programs, she did not have the luxury of having quality facilities, and was forced to use schools and YMCA facilities to house programs.
After Barnett's retirement in 1971, Ray L. Kisiah became the director. During his tenure, Parks and Recreation experienced tremendous growth due to the abundance
of federal funds to support public parks and recreation facilities throughout the United States. In all, over $5.2 million of non-city funds renovated existing facilities and built new ones.
Kisiah retired in 1995 and Irby Brinson was named director. In 1994, Parks and Recreation became the first municipal recreation department to receive national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and was re-accredited in 2004.
In 1997, Parks and Recreation began upgrading Asheville's parks and recreation system by developing the first long-range comprehensive master plan, the Asheville Parks and Recreation 2015 Comprehensive Master Plan and the Asheville Greenways Master Plan in 1998. Both serve as the guide to improvements to existing facilities and addition of new, greenway development, land acquisition, expansion of services and staff, and development of funding opportunities.
The National Recreation and Parks Association named Asheville Parks and Recreation the Gold Medal winner in 2002. Top-notch departments from around the
country vie for the award each year in four different categories based on population size.
In 2005, the City of Asheville received significant recreation facilities from Buncombe County as part of the water agreement negotiations. The Municipal Golf Course, Nature Center, McCormick Field, Aston Park and Recreation Park joined the Asheville Parks and Recreation family.
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Vision & Master Plan
The City of Asheville Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts and Greenways Master Plan was completed in 2009 to guide how the City provides these services over the next several years. For information about the master plan contact the City of Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Art Department at (828) 259-5800 or parks@ashevillenc.gov.
Master Plan Document
Asheville FINAL Report
Asheville FINAL Executive Summary
Appendicies:
Appendix I Demographics and Trends
Appendix II Focus Groups Summary
Appendix III Cost Recovery Pyramid Methodology
Appendix IV GRASP History and Methodology
Appendix V Asheville Park and Facility Inventory and GRASP A
Appendix VII Alternative Funding
Appendix VIII Sample Partnership Policy
Appendix IX Sample Sponsorship Policy
Appendix X Example Park Development Menu List and Walkability
Appendix XI Description of Parks
Maps:
Map A Asheville Regional
Perspective A Neighborhood Access to Components
Perspective B Walkable Access to Components
Perspective C Neighborhood Access Indoor Facilities
Perspective D Neighborhood Access Parks & Outdoor Facilities
Perspective E Neighborhood Access Trails
Recommendation Map
Resource Map B System Inventory Map
Resource Map C Sub Area Map
Greenways Recommendation Map
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2010 Annual Report
The City of Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department's 2010 Annual Report lists achievements and programs from the various divisions, boards, and department-wide initiatives.
2010 Annual Report