The City of Asheville invites the public to share input that will help shape the trajectory of two significant riverfront recovery projects: the French Broad Riverfront Parks Project and the Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Project.
Join us at our drop-in Open House:
- When: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
- Where: Asheville Middle School Cafeteria at 211 South French Broad Avenue
- Parking: Free parking is available at the meeting location, which is accessible on the S4 ART bus route.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet both of the project teams, learn more about each project’s goals, and provide input that will guide design principles moving forward. Activities for children, light refreshments, and Spanish language interpretation will be provided.
Can’t Make It?
Those unable to attend the open house can still provide feedback and meet members of the project team:
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- Online Survey: An online survey is available November 24 through December 19.
- Community Gathering Spots: Find project team members at community events in December that are posted to the official project pages (Azalea and French Broad).
- Focused Discussions (specific to French Broad project): A series of meetings to gather feedback on identified topic areas for the French Broad Riverfront Parks Project will be held on December 11. Head to the project page for more information and to register – capacity is limited.
A Transparent Approach to Building Back Resiliently
The City of Asheville is committed to keeping residents informed about this community investment every step of the way. Open communication is key to a successful project, and progress should be celebrated together as neighbors. We encourage the public to provide input in the current planning stage for these important park and infrastructure improvements. Input opportunities at this initial stage are intentionally designed to capture a wide understanding of public needs. The project teams will report back what they heard in early 2026. Future input opportunities will be more refined as the project progresses through later design stages.
Background
In September 2024, the region experienced catastrophic damage due to flooding from Tropical Storm Helene, which heavily impacted areas closest to the waterways. This severe weather completely submerged over 200 acres of parks, recreation amenities, facilities, and the greenway network along the French Broad Riverfront. Similarly, areas along the Swannanoa River and Azalea Road also sustained major damage to recreation facilities and vital transportation infrastructure, including Recreation and Azalea parks, and the Gashes Creek Bridge and Dam. The two recovery projects will restore the storm-damaged parks and infrastructure system along Asheville’s riverfront recreation areas.
Cost recovery for these projects is essential and is sought primarily through federal disaster relief programs, including:
- FEMA Public Assistance Program
- Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) program
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
- Additional funds may be supplemented by other grants and local capital funds.
Timeline
The Azalea and French Broad projects are currently at the first phase of design, allowing for a consolidated initial engagement effort. A summary of findings from this engagement period will be provided in early 2026. The design phase for both projects will last through 2026 and into early 2027 and will be followed by a phased construction approach on a timeline that is to be determined.
Using a phased approach, public access to these spaces will be maximized throughout the duration of the projects, allowing as many amenities as possible to be open for public use. Depending on the severity of the damage, some parks, greenways and facilities may be stabilized enough to allow temporary reopening.
About the Project Teams
The Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Project is being led by OLIN, an international landscape architecture, comprehensive planning, and urban design firm. The French Broad Riverfront Parks Project is led by Sasaki, a global design firm that brings expertise in landscape architecture, architecture, planning, and civil engineering. City staff is thrilled to be teaming up with these highly qualified teams and looks forward to working with the community to build two successful projects that revitalize Asheville’s riverfronts.