The City of Asheville is in the formative stages of developing a comprehensive greenway system that meets the needs and desires of the community. Greenways consistently rank high on the publics list of civic infrastructure priorities and the PRCA Department has been working diligently since the 1980’s to advance the communities greenway goals.
Greenways are multi-use paths used for recreation and alternative transportation that typically occupy stream and river corridors. Greenways connect people to the places they live, work, and play as well as preserve open space to promote air and water quality. Asheville currently offers 4.3 miles of developed greenways and is working towards its vision of a 15 mile system composed of 12 interconnected corridors.
Contact Information
Asheville Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department
70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801
Phone:(828)259-5800
Fax:(828)259-5606
Asheville’s varied topography and natural features affords a variety of experiences for the greenway users. Presently, most greenways are situated along stream, creek, and river corridors although mountain side and forested corridors will eventually be added to the mix. Many of Asheville’s existing greenways are located within individual parks where they compliment other recreational amenities. All greenway are designed to be handicap accessible.
The Asheville Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts and Greenways Master Plan was approved in 2009 and includes a map of recommended greenways. The current Master Plan classifies greenways as “High” and “Medium” priority depending on the scale of connectivity they provide, land availablility, availability of funds and construction feasibility.
Greenways Recommendation Map
Greenway Commission
The Greenway Commission is made up of community volunteers charged with the mission to advise the City of Asheville in developing a comprehensive system of greenways. The Greenway Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 3:30 p.m., in the 1st floor conference room of City Hall. For more information call 259-5800.
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Completed Greenways
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Greenways Under Development
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Proposed Greenways
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- French Broad River,
Western Segment
- Glenn’s Creek,
Western Segment
- Reed Creek, Phase I
- Swannanoa River
Greenway, “Riverbend” Segment
- Town Branch
Greenway, Phase I
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Reed Creek, Phase II
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- French Broad River, NW Segment
- Azalea Park
- Beaucatcher Mountain
Beverly Hills
- Clingman Forest
- Glenns Creek, Eastern Segment
- Reed Creek, Phase III
- Reed Creek, Phase IV
- Hominy Creek
- Haw Creek
- Montford
- Rhododendron Creek
- Town Branch, Phase II
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Completed Greenways
French Broad River Greenway, Western Segment
The Western Segment consists of a 10’ wide paved trail that extends from the FBR Park (at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa River) to Hominy Creek Park (at the confluence of the French Broad River and Hominy Creek) for a total of 2.8 miles. The trail includes a short on-road section as well as a section that is incorporated into a private RV park. The French Broad River Greenway system is Asheville's major north-south alternative transportation corridor and overlaps with a portion of the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan, a major urban waterfront redevelopment project.
Glenn’s Creek Greenway, Western Segment
The Western Segment consists of a 10’ wide paved trail that extends from W.T. Weaver Park to the Botanical Gardens of UNC-Asheville for a total of 1.0 miles. The trail connects the Norwood, Montford and UNC-A neighborhoods. The Western Segment makes up a vast majority of the Glenn’s Creek corridor.
Reed Creek Greenway, Phase I
Phase I, consists of a 10’ wide paved trail that extends from Catawba to Cauble Street for a total of 0.23 miles. Reed Creek Greenway is Asheville’s highest profile greenway because of its close proximity to downtown. Once complete, the 1.0 mile corridor will connect the Botanical Gardens, UNC-A, and the Montford neighborhood to downtown Asheville.
Swannanoa River Greenway, “Riverbend” Segment
The “Riverbend” Segment consists of a 10’ wide paved trail that runs in front of the Wal-Mart shopping center. It was constructed as part of a development agreement with the Wal-Mart developer and will eventually connect into the Swannanoa River Greenway system, Asheville’s major east-west alternative transportation corridor and part of the Dykeman Riverway Plan.
Town Branch Greenway, Phase I
Phase I begins at Choctaw Park, 500 feet west from the intersection with McDowell Street, travels west along Town Branch Creek and ends near the intersection of South French Broad Avenue and Choctaw Street, a few hundred feet from the new Livingston Street Recreation Center. Phase I takes the form of wide sidewalks and bike lanes and totals 0.2 miles. The Town Branch corridor will eventually connect the new Livingston Recreation Center to McDowell Street.
Greenways Under Development
Reed Creek Greenway, Phase II
Phase II will consist of a 10’ wide paved trail that will extend from Cauble to Magnolia Street for a total of 0.30 miles. This segment will include a bridge crossing, bio-retention features, trees, and an emergency call box. Construction is slated for spring, 2011 and will take approximately six months to complete.
Clingman Forest Greenway
The Clingman Forest Greenway will begin at Aston Park at Hilliard Avenue and follows an existing sewer line and city right-of-way down to Clingman Avenue for a total of 0.5 miles. The greenway will be encompassed by an urban forest and will connect to parts of a perennial stream with beautiful rock outcrops. There are potential connections to Aston Park, Asheville Middle School, YWCA, future affordable housing complex at the corner of Hilliard and Clingman Avenue, Owens Bell Park and surrounding residential areas. The planning for clingman forest is being funded by a Tiger II grant from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
Town Branch, Phase II
Phase II will consist of a 10’ wide paved trail that will extend from Depot street, in the River Arts District, to the existing trail on Choctaw Street. The corridor will utilize park space behind new Livingston Street Recreation Center. The project will also include off-road and sidewalk connections between Choctaw Park and McDowell Street. The Planning for Town Branch Greenway Phase II is being funded by a Tiger II grant from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation.
Beaucatcher Mountain Greenway
The Beuacatcher Mountain Greenway will begin at Memorial Stadium, travel north along the west slope of Beaucatcher Mountain to College Street. The corridor will end at the old Beaucatcher reservoir for a total of 1.25 miles. This wooded corridor will have commanding views of downtown Asheville and connects Beaucatcher Park and White Fawn Reservoir. The greenway will be a paved asphalt trail with brief on-road segments in the form of bike lanes and/or sidewalks. This corridor will connect Beaucatcher Park and White Fawn Reservoir to the old Beaucatcher Reservoir near the intersection of College Street and Windswept Drive. There are potential connections to Memorial Stadium/Mountainside Park, McCormick Field and the Asheland Avenue greenway corridor.
Proposed Greenways
French Broad Greenway, Northwest Segment
The Northwest Segment will begin at the FBR Park (at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa River), travel north along the west bank French Broad River and terminate at Haywood Road, near the Riverlink Bridge. The 10’ wide paved trail will total 0.8 miles.
Azalea Park Greenway
The Azalea Park Greenway will begin at the intersection of East Hawthorne Drive and Swannanoa River Drive (Anne Patton Joyce Park), travel south on Swannanoa River Road, east onto Azalea Road, cross over Gashes Creek bridge and follow the Swannanoa River around Azalea Park. The corridor will end at the Blue Ridge Parkway for a total of 1.75 miles. This corridor largely passes through riparian woods with serene views of the Swannanoa River and park properties. The greenway will have one short on-road segment on Azalea Road. This greenway corridor will connect the Beverly Hills community to the Swannanoa River, Asheville Municipal Golf Course, Recreation Park, Nature Center and Azalea Park. The Azalea Park Greenway is part of the Swannanoa River Greenway, Asheville’s major east-west alternative transportation corridor and part of the Dykeman Riverway Plan.
Beverly Hills Greenway
The Beverly Hills Greenway will wind itself through the rolling and beautifully wooded Beverly Hills neighborhood that was developed around a notable Donald Ross golf course. This segment will connect the Haw Creek Greenway to the Swannanoa River Greenway via Ann Patton Joyce Park, the Asheville Municipal Golf Course, and a series of new neighborhood sidewalks for a total of 0.5 miles.
Glenn’s Creek, Eastern Segment
The Eastern Segment is a short 0.09 mile section that will connect Weaver Park to Kimberly Avenue. The greenway is proposed along the creek, in an existing sewer right-of-way, and in close proximity to residences on both east and west sides of Glenns Creek.
Reed Creek, Phase III
Phase III will be extend from Catawba Street to Weaver Boulevard for a total of 0.15 miles.
Reed Creek, Phase IV
Phase IV will be the final phase of the 1.0 mile Reed Creek corridor. It will stretch from Magnolia Avenue to Starnes Avenue for a total of 0.25 miles. The trail will meander along the bank of Reed Creek and hug the back property lines of high-density residential and commercial developments.
Hominy Creek Greenway,
The Hominy Creek Greenway will link the West Asheville community to the French Broad River Greenway system. It will be approximately 2.6 miles long. It will begin at Hominy Creek Park (Buncombe County facility) located at the confluence of French Broad River and Hominy Creek, cross Hominy Creek and wind northwest along the Creek, below the I-40 and I-240 overpasses. The trail will continue by crossing the old Brevard Road bridge, through the Waller tract (currently under option by the city) on the west side of the creek, cross the creek and connect into Sand Hill Road. The trail will transition into existing sidewalk on Sand Hill Road, cross Bear Creek Road, and pick back up as an off-road path, continuing along the creek bank until it reaches Sand Hill Road again (near the Asheville School property). The Hominy Creek Greenway will have spurs that connect to the Farmers Market, North Carolina National Guard (slated for re-development by the City of Asheville), Rhododendron Creek Greenway, numerous Sand Hill road neighborhoods, and the West Assembly of God Church.
Haw Creek Greenway
The Haw Creek Greenway will connect the East Asheville Recreation Center and East Asheville Park to New Haw Creek Road and Haw Creek Elementary School via existing and proposed sidewalks for a total of 0.75 miles.
Montford Greenway
The Montford Greenway will begin at Gudger Street, below the Area Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center and Randolph Learning Center and follows an existing sewer line and wooded stream corridor to Hill Street for a total of 0.8 miles. The greenway will continues west along Hill Street underneath I-26 and end at Riverside Drive. A portion of the greenway may be constructed as part of private development proposed for the area. Portions of the greenway have challenging terrain. Potential connections exist to Isaac Dickson Elementary School, Randolph Learning Center, Chamber of Commerce, public housing, residential areas and the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay.
Rhododendron Creek Greenway
The Rhododendron Greenway will begin as an off-road paved trail at Shelburne Road, directly across the street from the North Carolina National Guard property and transition to a shared road with Talmadge Street. At West Asheville Park the greenway will pick up again as an off-road trail, run behind the existing Davenport co-housing development through which the city has easement, head northwest and end at Sand Hill Road near Vance Elementary School for a total of 0.75 miles This greenway will increase access for a significant amount of residential areas, West Asheville Park, and Vance Elementary School.