Each September, community centers for older Americans celebrate the wellness, cultural, and social opportunities they provide. Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) has two such centers that specialize in recreation and leisure programming for community members who’ve reached the prime of life. Harvest House originally opened as a retail space in [...]
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR), like the community it serves, is constantly changing and evolving. In alignment with Asheville City Council’s 2036 Vision and current strategic priorities, the department is focused on Improving Core Core Services, Neighborhood Resilience, and Improving Public Safety. APR’s fall program guide reflects the department’s [...]
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) usually shares wellness tips geared towards homo sapiens, but this week’s is for the dogs. Asheville has no shortage of community members who treat their dogs like family – celebrating accomplishments, feeding them well, and ensuring they have a valuable place in the pack. Pets can enrich an individual’s [...]
Community members are ditching phones, tablets, computers, and TV screens in favor of the comfort of tabletop board games, at least occasionally. In an age of hyperconnectivity, unplugging for a couple of hours seems like a revolutionary way to explore, connect, and discover. Sales of board games and puzzles have shot up over the past [...]
What’s the “dill” with pickleball? Lots of local picklers treat the sport like the bread and butter of their week. The national total of 4.8 million pickleball players is a 14.3% increase from 2020 and 39.3% increase from 2019 (1.36 million additional players over that two-year span). Since Asheville Parks & Recreation [...]
Pollinator gardens are a recent concept. Reminiscent of victory gardens promoted during World Wars I and II, these gardens help supplement food supply and boost morale – but for butterflies, bees, moths, beetles, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. These animals perform the crucial ecosystem service of pollination, making it possible for food and [...]
When Ginny and Josh Yurich wanted to balance their kids’ screen time with more time spent outdoors, they found their greatest memories as a family and most successful parenting moments came from time spent outside. To spread thoughts, pictures, and words of encouragement, Ginny created 1000 Hours Outside. The organization encourages families [...]
June is Great Outdoors Month and kicks off with Global Running Day and National Trails Day. Asheville’s growing network of greenways, natural surface trails, and scenic urban hikes act as a foundation of a vibrant hub for community members to connect with neighbors and explore the [...]
Biking and cycling can be more than a fun childhood pastime or eco-friendly hobby. May is National Bike Month, so celebrate the benefits of this versatile form of exercise that can be adjusted to different fitness levels and goals. There are many benefits of biking 30 minutes or more a day including [...]
With access to Asheville Parks & Recreation’s pools, parks, and greenways, it’s natural to get out in the sun during warm spring and summer days. This year, make sure it’s second nature to protect your skin from the sun when you go outside.
City of Asheville fosters development of an APP to help first responders and our community Identifying a need SAFE PLUS MORE is an APP to respond to the mental health needs of our first responders, men and women who face incredible odds, intense job pressure and psychological stressors on a daily basis as part of their career. Those [...]
Farmers markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs provide opportunities to promote access to delicious, healthy foods and provide families with nutrition education. As trusted providers of accessible nutrition hubs and wellness opportunities, multiple departments within the City of Asheville have worked closely for years with local organizations to expand access to healthy food and locally made products from farmers, bakers, and others.