Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts City Council-Appointed Boards & Commissions
News & Current Events
Senior Games entry form
Senior Games event schedule
Silver Arts Showcase entry form
Open House Community Day
Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will host an Open House Community Day at the Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road, on Thursday, May 31, from 10:30am until 2:30 pm. Harvest House is a community center that specializes in activities for senior citizens and adults. Asheville area seniors and residents of the greater Kenilworth community are especially encouraged to attend. The Open House will consist of facility tours, health awareness stations, audience participation dances, cakewalks and demonstrations of the crafts and activities that are offered at the Harvest House. Light refreshments will be available. Car pooling is encouraged.
For more information, contact Lee Dansby at Harvest House at 828-350-2051, or pdansby@ashevillenc.gov.
ASHEVILLE RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CANCELLED
The Asheville Recreation Advisory Board has cancelled its regular monthly meeting scheduled for Monday, May 14 at 12:30 p.m. The Recreation Advisory Board will resume its regular meeting schedule on June 11 at 12:30 p.m. in City Hall in the 1st floor conference room. For more information, contact Debbie Ivester at 828-259-5804 or divester@ashevillenc.gov .
City of Asheville Cultural Arts Division
Grassroots Arts Program Grant Applications
Available Friday, May 4th 2012
Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Asheville, NC – The City of Asheville Cultural Arts Division will begin posting application forms and guidelines for the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program Grant on Friday, May 4th, 2012. All applications will be due by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Application forms and grant guidelines will be available on Friday, May 4th on the City of Asheville website at www.ashevillenc.gov/parks or may be picked up at the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts office in City Hall (70 Court Plaza, 4th Floor Asheville, NC 28801) Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Applications and guidelines can be mailed upon request.
Grant amounts can range from $500 to $5,000 per application for a total of approximately $45,000 to be awarded throughout Buncombe County. Funding will be awarded for projects that occur between July 1, 2012 and May 31, 2013. Grant recipients will be announced in July, 2012.The Cultural Arts Division will be hosting three workshops and one webinar to assist applicants in preparing their grants:
Friday, May 25
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Recreation Park Offices
72 Gashes Creek Road
Asheville, NC 28805
Thursday, May 31
1:30p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Black Mountain Center for the Arts
225 West State Street
Black Mountain, NC 28711
Webinar
Monday, June 4
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
(visit www.ashevillenc.gov/parks for details)
Tuesday, June 12
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Weaverville Public Library
41 N. Main Street
Weaverville, NC 28787
Grants will be available to non-profit organizations whose purpose is to promote and develop diverse cultural arts programming in Buncombe County. Funding priority is given to qualified arts organizations, arts in education programs conducted by qualified artists, and other community organizations that provide art and cultural programs in the county.
Since 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. Using a per capita based formula, the program provides funding for the arts in all 100 counties of the state through partnerships with local arts councils. The City of Asheville’s Cultural Arts Division serves as the North Carolina Arts Council’s Provisional County Partner for awarding subgrants to local organizations for arts programs in Buncombe County.
For questions or more information, contact Diane Ruggiero at 828-259-5815 or druggiero@ashevillenc.gov .
T’ai Chi Chih Classes
Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will host an eight-week session of T’ai Chi Chih at the Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road, on Wednesdays at 3:30pm, starting in May. Cost is $60 for the eight-week session, with a minimum of 5 students required. - Free introductory workshop will be held on Wed, May 9 at 3:30pm. - T’ai Chi Chih is a moving meditation made up of 19, easy-to-learn movements. It differs somewhat from classic T’ai Chi (a martial art), yet offers the same healing benefits of stress reduction, better balance, and flexibility. - For more information or to register, contact Harvest House at 828-350-2051, or at
harvesth@ashevillenc.gov.
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.
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 . Fees are listed for Asheville city residents (R) and for non-residents (NR). Camps meet at the East Asheville Recreation Center, 906 Tunnel Rd.
ASHEVILLE PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL ARTS CO-SPONSORED YOUTH BASEBALL & SOFTBALL 2012 SPRING SEASON
ASHEVILLE PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURAL ARTS CO-SPONSORED YOUTH BASEBALL & SOFTBALL 2012 SPRING SEASONSpring 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 AT MONTFORD
Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts will host Comedy Improv classes on the 2
nd and 4
th 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
There are no Bid Requests or RFP's at this time.
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.
2010-2011 Annual Report