Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center – Phase 2 Park District: South Central Census Tract: 9 Happening Now Despite COVID-19, we have made substantial progress over the past several months. The City is currently moving forward with the architect to develop construction drawings in order to permit and bid the project for construction. Staff will take the construction bid to council for approval for an anticipated construction start date of summer/fall 2021. As soon as it’s available, the City will provide the public with information regarding the construction schedule. If you are wondering what the project might look like, this graphic is a visual rendering of the proposed project and the file is available at the bottom of this page. Background Development of the Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center was the number one priority in the 2009 Asheville Parks & Recreation Master Plan and the City has made recreational investments in the Southside community a focus. When the Grant Center opened in 2010, it was only the second recreation center ever built by the City designed exclusively for recreational programming since 1974 when the Tempie Avery Montford Center opened. The original Grant Center structure and new additions represent about $8 million dollars of Parks & Recreation investment in the Southside community. In a citizen-led process, close to 150 community members participated in a Southside Town Hall Meeting on January 31, 2017. Facilitated by Tyrone Greenlee, Director of Christians for a United Community, participants discussed recreational opportunities for the Southside neighborhood including the location of a new pool for the Southside community, a more attractive Walton Street Park and the next phase for the Grant Southside Center. On February 28, 2017 the City of Asheville held the first in a series of community meetings where residents participated in a hands-on design exercise to help develop options for the design for Walton Street Park & Pool and Phase 2 of the Grant Southside Center. Additional community design meetings were held on March 7, 9, 18, 21, and 23, 2017. The results were compiled and are being used to guide the development and designs for both properties. The City has contracted with a local architectural design firm to create options for Phase 2 construction of the Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center. The consultant has taken the input from the community design meetings held in 2017 and additional focused community input to develop the current design. The design services contract was originally approved by City Council on September 24, 2019 and a revised scope was submitted for approval on October 27, 2020. Plans include the addition of a gymnasium, outdoor basketball court and an outdoor swimming pool. Timeline 2017 Winter – Fall: Development of facility and park design alternatives by the community. Ongoing outreach to residents 18 and under for input. Consolidation of all proposed design information. Exploration of options available at both Walton Street and Grant Southside Center properties. 2018 Winter: RFQ issued for design consultant, submittals received Spring: Consultant selected Summer/Fall: Consultant develops multiple concepts for both properties. Community input on concepts opens. 2019 Fall: Contract for design services submitted to City Council for approval September 24. Winter: Design firm begins developing options based on input received and available budget. 2020 Spring: Additional meetings with Southside community focus groups and input from community youth. Spring: Design options reviewed with cost estimates. Fall: Revised design services contract to include addition of a swimming pool submitted to City Council for approval. 2021 Spring: Construction bids posted. Summer: Bid awarded and contracted. Summer/Fall: Construction begins Supporting Documents Grant Center Illustrative Rendering Grant Center Fact Sheet Grant Center Site Plan Grant Center Phase II Walton Street Pool Assessment Report Comments from January 31, 2017 Town Hall meeting Southside Recreational Design Process Steps: January – Fall, 2017 Contact Information Sandra Travis, Program & Operations Manager 828-259-5800 Related Services Register for programming Register for parks & recreation programming such as camps and activities for children, teens, and adults. 5 Services Athletics Information about athletics programs offered by the City of Asheville. Enjoy greenways Explore an interactive map of the City's greenways and learn how to use them for your recreation and transportation enjoyment. Find a pool or Splasheville information Hours and information about pools and Splashville, Asheville's interactive splash play fountain. Find a park, playground, or recreation center Find parks and facilities near you. Search by location or amenity, or view a list of centers and parks. Community events Find upcoming camps, events, and programs and reserve a spot when space is limited. Reserve a picnic shelter View parks and recreation shelters that can be reserved and make a reservation. More Related Services Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center - Phase 2 News Asheville Parks & Recreation launches virtual grand opening of Richmond Hill Park Posted on April 21, 2021April 22, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Parks & Recreation is pleased to share this virtual grand opening of Richmond Hill Park, a bond project completed with funding approved by Asheville voters in 2016. Additional funding and support was also received through a partnership with Pisgah Area SORBA (Southern Off-Road Biking Association) for the newly added [...] Registration opens for 2021 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Competition Posted on April 6, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Parks & Recreation is proud to present the 2021 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Competition in partnership with Buncombe County, the YMCA and Black Mountain Parks & Recreation. The games will be held April 19 through May 19 and feature a hybrid format of both in-person and virtual events. All in-person competitions will be [...] Asheville Parks picnic shelter reservations reopen April 1 Posted on March 30, 2021March 30, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Parks & Recreation is happy to announce that picnic shelter reservations will resume on April 1. Rates begin at $40 per day and are available at 11 parks throughout the city. All shelters are available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless reserved. To reserve a shelter online, visit www.avlrec.com. Under Gov. Roy [...] More Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center - Phase 2 News
Enjoy greenways Explore an interactive map of the City's greenways and learn how to use them for your recreation and transportation enjoyment.
Find a pool or Splasheville information Hours and information about pools and Splashville, Asheville's interactive splash play fountain.
Find a park, playground, or recreation center Find parks and facilities near you. Search by location or amenity, or view a list of centers and parks.
Reserve a picnic shelter View parks and recreation shelters that can be reserved and make a reservation.
Asheville Parks & Recreation launches virtual grand opening of Richmond Hill Park Posted on April 21, 2021April 22, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Parks & Recreation is pleased to share this virtual grand opening of Richmond Hill Park, a bond project completed with funding approved by Asheville voters in 2016. Additional funding and support was also received through a partnership with Pisgah Area SORBA (Southern Off-Road Biking Association) for the newly added [...]
Registration opens for 2021 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Competition Posted on April 6, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Parks & Recreation is proud to present the 2021 Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Competition in partnership with Buncombe County, the YMCA and Black Mountain Parks & Recreation. The games will be held April 19 through May 19 and feature a hybrid format of both in-person and virtual events. All in-person competitions will be [...]
Asheville Parks picnic shelter reservations reopen April 1 Posted on March 30, 2021March 30, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Asheville Parks & Recreation is happy to announce that picnic shelter reservations will resume on April 1. Rates begin at $40 per day and are available at 11 parks throughout the city. All shelters are available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless reserved. To reserve a shelter online, visit www.avlrec.com. Under Gov. Roy [...]