Greenways Last updated or reviewed on April 18, 2024 Recent News Skaters and bicyclists enjoy an afternoon on the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, where they are often joined by families with children. The River Arts District Transportation Improvement Plan (RADTIP) is finished. The greenway in this section of the River Arts District is called the Wilma Dykeman Greenway. It is named after Asheville area native and author Wilma Dykeman. In summer 2023, Riverlink celebrated the opening of their Karen Cragnolin Park and greenway access project with a ribbon cutting and community-wide celebration. Named in honor of RiverLink’s founder, this parcel in the heart of the French Broad River Park corridor has gone through an impressive transformation from former junkyard to a reclaimed, climate resilient, public space and greenway. Close the GAP Planning Process In October 2022, City Council adopted the GAP Plan which was produced through the Close the GAP Planning Process. This plan provides updates to the City’s Greenway Master Plan (G), ADA Transition Plan (A)*, and Pedestrian Master Plan (P) in one comprehensive document. These plans were combined because Asheville’s overall pedestrian network will be stronger if the three aspects – greenways, ADA accessibility, and pedestrian networks are considered and planned at the same time. The GAP Plan identifies greenway, accessibility, and pedestrian networks for our community as well as programs and policies to support the expansion of these networks. For information, go to the Close the GAP Page. Explore our interactive Greenways Map! Do you have a concern with a greenway? Use The Asheville App to report a problem with our streets, sidewalks, bike facilities, and greenways. The Asheville App River to Ridge Greenway and Trail Network The River to Ridge Greenway and Trail Network will be a connection of continuous greenways that encircle the downtown area with the River Arts District and French Broad River greenways, the South Slope Greenway Connector, Beaucatcher Greenway and the Urban Trail. This greenway network will provide a unique experience for any local or tourist that will allow access to two of Asheville’s most special natural assets: the French Broad River and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Once completed, the network will have 10.25 miles of connected greenways and trails. The River to Ridge Network will encompass the existing segments of the French Broad River Greenway that is currently 2.83 miles in length connecting the French Broad River Park to the Hominy Creek River Park via Amboy Park, Carrier Park, and RiverLink’s Karen Cragnolin Park. The River to Ridge Greenway Network also includes a half-mile-long section of the greenway that is behind the New Belgium Brewing Company. The remaining greenways and greenway connector projects are shovel-ready and pending construction or waiting on funding. Greenway Projects in Progress (Build Phase) Project Status Map The RADTIP This is a transformational project that enhances the River Arts District with a safer road, flood mitigation measures, sidewalks, separated bike lanes, public art and new gardens. It also includes the new 2.2-mile long section of the Wilma Dykeman Greenway. The section begins at Hill St. and Riverside Drive and terminates at the Amboy Road Bridge. Completed June 2021 The French Broad River West Bank corridor This is a shovel-ready project that will close the gap between the half-mile section of the greenway on New Belgium’s property at Craven Street and the French Broad River Park (near the dog park area). Once completed this project will be just over 1 mile long. This greenway will feature information on the indigenous edible plants in the area and have volunteer-led edible gardens. This greenway has the nickname “The Edible Mile.” This area is closed for construction preparations. Construction will begin Spring 2021. Pending construction – timeline mid-June 2021. Expected completion – June 2022. The Nasty Branch Greenway (formerly called Town Branch) This project is a ¾-mile-long greenway that starts at the Grant Southside Center on Depot Street and Livingston Street and terminates at Phifer Street near the McDowell and Southside intersection. This greenway lies on flat terrain along the banks of the creek called Town Branch. This is an important East/West connection in the greenway network. This greenway will feature a series of interpretive signs about the devastating impact of the razing of the Southside Community, a historically African-American community, due to urban renewal. The City of Asheville is currently working on the signage and is seeking first-hand information from the Southside residents to finalize the story on the signs. Construction will begin in 2023. In the fall of 2020, the City of Asheville officially changed the name of this greenway from the Town Branch Greenway to the Nasty Branch Greenway to honor the microlocal name the Southside neighborhood calls the creek. The greenway will feature interpretive signs that tell the history of the Southside neighborhood before Urban Renewal raised most of the area. These signs will give more detail to the significance of the name Nasty Branch. Pending Construction – timeline TBD Greenways Currently Being Designed and Planned Project Status Map Greenway Connectors are on-road projects designed to direct greenway visitors from one greenway trailhead to another, safely and easily. Two greenway connectors are currently being designed. The Depot Street Greenway Connector will connect the western end of Town Branch Greenway with the Bacoate Branch and French Broad River East Bank Greenway (the “RADTIP greenway”) The South Slope Greenway Connector will connect the eastern end of Town Branch Greenway to Beaucatcher Greenway. The combined length of these connectors is approximately 1.1 miles. This project is also a wayfinding project Under Design Swannanoa River Greenway Phases One and Two The City is designing a one-mile section of the Swannanoa River Greenway corridor. This section begins at the eastern end of Thompson Street at Glendale Rd. It will follow the river behind businesses along the Swannanoa River. It will terminate at the intersection of Bleachery Road and Swannanoa River Road. Construction is expected to begin in the Spring of 2024. Under Design Beaucatcher Greenway This greenway is a 1.25-mile-long greenway designed to connect Memorial Stadium to the historic (and reputably haunted) Helen’s Bridge. This greenway will also have a spur trail to connect a future park, the White Fawn Overlook Park on the top of Beaucatcher Mountain off of Reservoir Road. Currently, the City is contemplating building the entire greenway to the finalized plans or modifying the construction to be able to build access sections at either end that enhance public access and safety and can be built with existing funds. Shovel Ready but Pending Funding Reed Creek Greenway Extension An existing portion of the Reed Creek Greenway spans about 0.86 miles from the intersection of Broadway St and WT Weaver Blvd to Elizabeth St. A Feasibility Study is underway to determine the best alignments for extending the greenway to the north and the south. The northern section will be extended to the intersection of Broadway St and Riverside Dr, and the southern section will terminate at the I-26 pedestrian bridge on Hill St near Isaac Dickson Elementary. Following the feasibility study, design, engineering and right-of-way acquisition will need to occur before construction. Feasibility Study Additional Resources 2022 Close the GAP Plan 2013 Greenway Master Plan 2005 Pedestrian Plan RiverLink’s Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan Contact Information Lucy Crown, Transportation Planning Manager Transportation Department 70 Court Plaza, Asheville NC 28801 828-259-5805