Memorial Stadium and Nearby Park Improvements Park District: East Central Census Tract: 7 / 8 Happening Now Design is moving forward on the first phase of maintenance improvements to Memorial Stadium. These initial improvements are focused on replacing the existing field turf and stormwater system to address identified safety concerns and improve playability. This project is anticipated to bid out in late winter 2021 with construction to begin in spring 2021. Future identified maintenance improvements will be prioritized at a later date based on remaining bond funds available. Recent Improvements Mountainside Park and Oakhurst Park In October 2019 improvements were made to the two neighborhood parks adjacent to Memorial Stadium. Conversations with the community identified the need to improve the park-like environment. New landscaping materials and site furnishings have been installed to improve safety and provide a place for residents to play and connect to the outdoors. Mountainside Park entry before landscaping Mountainside Park entry after landscaping Oakhurst Park before renovations Oakhurst Park after renovations Background Memorial Stadium is a city-owned multi-sport facility just outside of Downtown Asheville. The 100 year old facility has had modest improvements over time, with the most recent turf renovation in 2000. This project was identified as a high priority in the 2009 Parks and Recreation Master Plan as an important project to support the need for multiple athletic uses, improve safety, and enhance neighborhood park space. In November, 2016 Asheville voters made their choice clear when approving a bond referendum to make improvements to the City’s parks and recreation facilities Upgrades and improvements to Memorial Stadium and Mountainside Park are included in this funding. In 2017, the city began the planning and design for Memorial Stadium and Mountainside Park. Multiple community and stakeholder meetings have been held since 2019 to collect feedback and opinions. Timeline 9/2017-11/2017 – Planning phase, including facility needs assessment 3/13/2018 – Request for Proposals (RFP) advertised 5/14/2018 – Consultant interviews 7/24/2018 – City Council adopts contract with Alfred Benesch & Company Fall 2018 – Community meetings led by consultant August 1, 2019 – Community Meeting Summer 2020 – Winter 2021 – Field Replacement Drawings prepared Winter 2021 – Project Bidding Spring 2021 – City Council approval of construction contract Spring 2021 – Construction to begin Summer 2021 – Project completion Supporting Documents Request for Proposals Proposal from Alfred Benesch & Company Staff Report to City Council – July 24, 2018 Parks & Recreation Master Plan (2009) Frequently Asked Questions Document Neighborhood Presentation from July 11, 2019 Open City Hall Survey – Until August 25, 2019 Conceptual Plan Stakeholder Group Meeting Handout October 17, 2019 Contact Information Christy Bass, Program Manager 828-259-5801 Updated 1/20/2021 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 Memorial Stadium and Nearby Park Improvements News Asheville Parks & Recreation announces summer camps for 2021 Posted on February 26, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Registrations begins March 1 Asheville Parks & Recreation announces a fun and exciting camp line-up for summer! Our camps may look a little different this year, but we’re still bringing the fun for youth and teens at our camp locations. All programs will follow public health guidelines and include enhanced safety measures, limited numbers of participants [...] WNC Nature Center to welcome new red foxes Posted on February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Welcome to your new home, Samson and Bonita! The two red foxes will be joining the other residents of the WNC Nature Center and are coming to us from Izzie’s Pond Sanctuary in Liberty, S.C. Samson and Bonita have something more in common than their new home. They are both less than a year old and [...] Local athlete wins at virtual State Senior Games finals Posted on December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 by Polly McDaniel David Shepard earned some hardware at the recent North Carolina State Senior Games. A resident of Black Mountain, he planned to compete in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games as a qualifier for state competition; but when COVID-19 forced cancellation of the local games and in-person state games, state level competition was held virtually. In this year’s [...] More Memorial Stadium and Nearby Park Improvements 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 announces summer camps for 2021 Posted on February 26, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Registrations begins March 1 Asheville Parks & Recreation announces a fun and exciting camp line-up for summer! Our camps may look a little different this year, but we’re still bringing the fun for youth and teens at our camp locations. All programs will follow public health guidelines and include enhanced safety measures, limited numbers of participants [...]
WNC Nature Center to welcome new red foxes Posted on February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Welcome to your new home, Samson and Bonita! The two red foxes will be joining the other residents of the WNC Nature Center and are coming to us from Izzie’s Pond Sanctuary in Liberty, S.C. Samson and Bonita have something more in common than their new home. They are both less than a year old and [...]
Local athlete wins at virtual State Senior Games finals Posted on December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 by Polly McDaniel David Shepard earned some hardware at the recent North Carolina State Senior Games. A resident of Black Mountain, he planned to compete in the Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games as a qualifier for state competition; but when COVID-19 forced cancellation of the local games and in-person state games, state level competition was held virtually. In this year’s [...]