Community members are invited to view the design for Malvern Hills Park’s new swimming pool and provide input directly to the project team at an open house hosted by the City of Asheville at West Asheville Park (198 Vermont Ave.) from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23. This is a crucial step for residents to evaluate the design for what may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a new public pool in West Asheville. This project also includes the renovation of the original 1935 bathhouse and is funded by a general obligation (GO) bond package, which was overwhelmingly approved by Asheville voters for parks and recreation enhancements throughout the city.
The open house includes family activities, refreshments, and free beach balls and pool totes while supplies last. Community members can drop in to meet the designers and project team, review design created using data from a previous community preference survey, and provide direct input to ensure the updated aquatics facility may include features and activities they and future community members want to enjoy for years to come. Spanish language interpreters will also be available.
“This is your chance to tell us what you like about the design and what you think is missing,” according to Asheville Parks & Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt. “We’re on an aggressive timeline to bring this new pool to the community as quickly as possible, and the next step is getting feedback on this design to ensure this is the best possible pool for West Asheville and the entire city. Professional aquatic designers will translate your input from this phase and feedback from the community preference survey to refine the final design while also considering important safety requirements like building codes, environmental regulations, and the budget.”
Can’t Make It?
Those unable to attend the open house can still provide feedback and meet members of the project team:
- Online Survey: A survey will be available on the official project page.
- Contact the Project Team: Email questions, ideas, and concerns to Asheville Parks & Recreation Assistant Director Pete Wall at pwall@ashevillenc.gov.
- Chat at the Tailgate Market: Find project team members at West Asheville Tailgate Market (718 Haywood Road) on September 30 from 3:30–6:30pm.
- Community Gathering Spots: Find project team members at community events in September and October that are posted to the official project page.
A Transparent Approach to Progress
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. Individuals should provide their input directly to the project team to move the project forward efficiently and ensure its success.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, community members are encouraged to visit the official project page and sign up for milestone updates.