With a new year comes new programs, facility improvements and projects to improve our community. Here’s a look ahead at Asheville City government initiatives in 2019. Red Pandas exhibit to open Two cute red pandas will take up residence at the WNC Nature Center this year. The new red panda exhibit will open to the public on [...]
Two greenway projects got a green light from Asheville City Council this week. At their Feb. 25, meeting Council approved execution of contracts for: The Elsie’s Bridge Greenway Connector Project; and Construction of a Reed Creek Greenway Extension. The Council action paves the way for both projects to happen this [...]
Funding now in place for Asheville greenway projects will pave the way for spring 2020 construction. These shovel-ready projects are funded in part by state and federal transportation money administered through the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). They include: French Broad River West: This 1-mile greenway will fill a greenway gap [...]
The City of Asheville would like input on which shovel-ready greenway projects residents would like to see funded the fastest. So we have launched a survey on Open City Hall Asheville. The City has four greenway projects ready to construct, but do not have capital funding for them at this time. As staff strategize funding assistance, [...]
The evening of Dec. 13 was bitter cold. But that did not discourage people from attending Asheville’s Greenway Warmer. More than 120 people showed up to celebrate Asheville’s Greenway program achievements of 2017 and hear about 2018 greenway initiatives. You can see a 360 degree view of the meeting in Google Streets here. Carol [...]
On Feb. 23, the City of Asheville accepted funds from two nonprofits that have raised a combined $37,000 to be used to conduct a feasibility study for the first segment of the Swannanoa River Greenway Corridor, otherwise known as the East Asheville Greenway. The Asheville Parks and Greenways Foundation raised $22,000 from 5K races. The Friends [...]
If you have thoughts about the Beaucatcher section of the River-to-Ridge greenway network, we invite you to continue the ongoing community conversation on Open City Hall Asheville. The Beaucatcher project is a 1.25-mile-long greenway that runs from McCormick Field parking lot to Helen’s Bridge along the side of Beaucatcher Mountain. In its eighth year [...]
The City of Asheville has partnered with MountainTrue to assist the Falconhurst neighborhood in building natural surface trails within the Falconhurst Nature Preserve. The Falconhurst Nature Preserve is a 7.9 acre parcel of land adjacent to Tanglewood Drive that was deeded to the City of Asheville in 2012 as a conservation easement from the Conservation Trust [...]
City of Asheville will take a phased approach to the addition of bike lanes on Biltmore Ave. Addressing the public at City Council on August 23, City Manager Debra Campbell took time to clarify the delay to the plan and steps forward for the Biltmore restriping project, but also reiterated the City’s commitment [...]
With the new year at hand, we at the City of Asheville thought it would be a good time to take stock of some 2016 initiatives. Guided by City Council’s 2036 Vision, here are 10 areas where we enhanced service to our citizens. Voters pass bond resolutions On Election Day, Nov. 8, Asheville voters [...]
Spring is here and the City of Asheville’s largest piece of riverfront construction — the River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project (RADTIP) — is just about complete. It’s time to celebrate the past 10+ years of work that our community’s artists, businesses, nonprofit organizations and public institutions have done to transform this section of the [...]
The City of Asheville is joining with community partners for a weekend full of Earth Day events and family-friendly activities. The City of Asheville, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, Equinox, GreenWorks, New Belgium Brewing, Organic Grower’s School, Mountain True and RiverLink are hosting Asheville Earth Week on April 21, 22, and 23. With multiple events at different [...]
The City of Asheville is in the early stages of a large project to update the City’s Greenway Plan (G), ADA Transition Plan* (A), and Pedestrian Plan (P) (*By ADA transition we are specifically looking at accessibility improvements within the rights-of-way of our street network). The planning process, known as the “Close the GAP,” will identify [...]
A series of historic markers celebrating the heritage of four historically black neighborhoods is in the works as part of a partnership between the City of Asheville and Buncombe County. During their Oct. 22 meeting, Asheville City Council adopted an interlocal agreement to work with the County on this project. The project is being led at [...]
At left is Riverfront Office Director Stephanie Monson Dahl. On the right is Asheville Greenways Coordinator Lucy Crown. Both will lead tours during the N.C. Planning Conference in Asheville this week. When the N.C. Planning Conference comes to Asheville this week, City of Asheville Planning staff will be embedded in the conference, hosting events and [...]
Greenways are beneficial to community members because they provide safe and fun ways for everyone to get around town. The Asheville Greenway Committee and the City of Asheville will be hosting two drop-in style informational open houses for upcoming greenway projects. French Broad River West and Beaucatcher are the two longest pieces of the River to Ridge Greenway [...]
The following is a press release from the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO): Regional Planning Organization awards $25 million for Asheville area active transportation and transit projects The French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (FBRMPO) recently authorized more than $25 million of funding for transportation projects in the French Broad River MPO region. The MPO selected projects that included sidewalk, [...]
Asheville Public Works crew provided support to help the Green Opportunities landscaping students build the temporary trail. Members of the Green Opportunities training program will join the City of Asheville for a 1 p.m. April 27 ribbon cutting and celebration of a recently constructed temporary trail on the future Town Branch Greenway, behind the Grant Southside Center, [...]
In the spring 2019, construction of the French Broad River Greenway West is scheduled to begin. This property is located along the French Broad River between New Belgium Brewing and the French Broad River Park. In advance of construction, the City of Asheville is closing the future greenway and it will remain closed until construction is [...]
Trash Trout, provided by Asheville GreenWorks The City of Asheville invites the community to celebrate the unveiling of new public art installations at 3 p.m. Nov. 30. The event will start at Jean Webb Park at 30 Riverside Drive, and end at the Craven Street Boat Launch at 190 Riverside Drive. The purpose is to highlight the [...]
The Reed Creek Greenway is divided into two separate construction projects, one complete and the other in progress. The section of the greenway from Elizabeth Street to the Chestnut Street bridge was built by Sweetgrass Broadway LLC during the construction of their brand new 5 Points, a multi-use development at 242 Broadway Ave. The developer partnered with [...]
The City of Asheville started the construction of another neighborhood greenway connector project the week of May 25. Elsie’s Bridge is a bridge spanning the Town Branch Greenway that was part of “Elsie’s Alley.” It is located in the Southside neighborhood between the Glenrock Apartments and Mr Green’s Mini Mart on Depot Street. The bridge [...]
It is official: French Broad River Greenway West from Craven Street to Haywood Road is now open to the public! Construction is nearly complete and the greenway is ready to use and enjoy — and you may even find yourself under the mistletoe during your next visit. Please take photos of you and your family and friends [...]
Construction for the French Broad River West Greenway is under way! This greenway will extend from the southern end of the French Broad River Park near the dog park to the existing greenway under the Haywood Road bridge. Current activities include surveying, soil and sedimentation protection and preliminary grading. Part of the preliminary grading work includes [...]
With funding lagging for some of Asheville’s shovel-ready greenway projects, a local organization has stepped in to help get one in the road, so to speak. In April, students from the Green Opportunities Landscaping and Maintenance program will work in partnership with the City of Asheville to build a temporary trail on a portion of [...]
Construction to extend the French Broad River Greenway West this spring will connect it to French Broad River Park, creating a 4-mile stretch of continuous riverside greenway through four parks in Asheville. During their March 9 meeting, Asheville City Council approved funding for the French Broad River Greenway West Bank Construction Project. Federal funds administered through [...]
West Asheville’s Hominy Creek Greenway serves as an example of a “natural surface” — or unpaved trail — greenway. Greenways, it turns out, can come in many forms. While you may think of them as paved trails, a Dec. 13 event in downtown Asheville will explore how “natural surface trail systems” — or unpaved trails — can work. Come [...]
Asheville residents can look upon the new year with optimism. Together, we’ve weathered a pandemic and a vaccine will be available this year. Even so, the City of Asheville’s response to COVID-19 will continue in the new year, in coordination with the state of North Carolina and Buncombe County. Residents can look forward to advances in [...]
Mr. & Mrs. Damien Madden share a kiss under the mistletoe on the bridge on the French Broad River Greenway West. Enjoy a winter walk and get in a little holiday smooch! The mistletoe will be up through the middle of January. The French Broad River Greenway West (from Craven Street to Haywood Road) is a great place for a [...]
City staff have launched an Open City Hall topic on a planned one-way designation of a small portion of South Beaumont Street. This would be in connection with the Beaucatcher Greenway, designed to be part of the River to Ridge Greenway and Trail Network. This change would directly impact about 100 vehicles per day that [...]
If you travel through the intersection of Craven Street and Hazel Mill Road, you may have noticed that crews have begun installing the pergola at the trailhead on the Craven Street Project. The next step will be installing sign and roof panels. This is part of the French Broad River Greenway, which is expected to open in [...]
RADTIP improvements will widen Riverside Drive, adding bike lanes and sidewalks to make it safer for all modes of transportation. After years of careful planning, an exciting phase is about to begin in Asheville’s River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project, known as RADTIP. And that is the construction phase. After more than two years of [...]
The City of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Arborist Association have been working steadily for some time to be able to partner on much needed tree maintenance projects on City of Asheville property. On October 22, the partnership kicked off with a service day on Reed Creek Greenway. The Blue Ridge Arborist Association is composed of trained [...]
The City of Asheville’s Transportation Department is working on updates to the Greenway and Pedestrian Master Plans plus creating an ADA Plan for Public Rights of Way (i.e. streets and sidewalks). The planning process is at an intermediate point in the process. The initial assessments and public input is complete and a draft plan is [...]
The latest riverfront development: Completion of the northern half of the French Broad River Greenway East is expected in late fall. Scroll below for a map rendering of the River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project. Last August, shovels turned dirt in a community kickoff for RADTIP, the City of Asheville’s most recent riverfront improvement project. This August, [...]
On Oct. 28, the Tourism Product Development Fund Committee voted to approve funding for a City of Asheville greenway project, and money that will benefit two City-owned facilities. The grants include: City of Asheville – River to Ridge Destination Development: $2.2 million requested; $1.7 million recommended to fund Beaucatcher Greenway, French Broad River Greenway, and Amboy [...]
The City of Asheville is launching a survey for its final round of public engagement in the Close the Gap planning process. This is the final survey for the Close the GAP project, and the public’s input is needed on proposed project recommendations developed as part of the GAP Plan. The GAP Plan identifies a network [...]
