Asheville City Council unanimously approved the $256.36 million budget for the fiscal year 2026 at their regular meeting on June 10. The spending plan includes a robust Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that focuses on storm recovery, parks, transportation, public safety and community infrastructure over the next five years. Projects are selected for funding in [...]
The City of Asheville officially kicked off its annual celebration of Park and Recreation Month, as Council member Bo Hess, on behalf of Mayor Esther Manheimer, proclaimed July 2025 as Asheville Parks & Recreation Month in the city. The proclamation underscores the vital role of parks and recreation in fostering community health and unity, [...]
As we move forward on our community's Helene recovery efforts, we have not forgotten our four legged friends.
The City of Asheville is proud to announce that Recreate Asheville: Shaping Our City’s Parks, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR)’s 10-year comprehensive plan, received the Merit Award in Analysis & Planning from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NCASLA). This significant recognition underscores the plan’s innovative approach [...]
Looking to share your thoughts on Asheville’s parks, community centers, and recreation opportunities? Join Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) Director D. Tyrell McGirt for casual “Park Bench Chats,” offering one-on-one or small group conversations.
2025 Juneteenth festivities offer movies, geneologu, fashion, music and more. Check out the line up and plan ahead
Our offices will be closed Thursday, June 19, but regular hours resume the next day. Water plant production staff and Emergency Services personnell operate on a normal schedule on any oberserved holiday.
For safety and enjoyment, visitors are urged to exercise caution and be mindful of surroundings while utilizing the reopened areas. Please adhere to any posted signage, barriers, or instructions from park staff regarding closed areas or potential hazards.
Enjoying sunny days is the Asheville way and Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) has events, programs, and opportunities to welcome summer fun, create smiles, and bust boredom. Browse highlights below and use these links to find additional opportunities including free meetups and clubs, exercise and sports, arts and crafts, and more each week:
Is your organization looking to help out with post Helene recovery? TAP into a new program designed to streamline the authorization of quick-action, community-led recovery initiatives on public properties impacted by Tropical Storm Helene.
The City of Asheville offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day, May 26, a federally designated holiday that honors military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has approved the City of Asheville’s Action Plan for spending approximately $225 million in Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds.
It’s no secret that Ashevillians love to spend time outside. With public parks, paved greenways and natural surface trails, sport courts and fields, playgrounds, and festivals throughout the city, urban adventures and connections with nature are rarely far away. As warmer days come to the mountains, safety is crucial to navigate the lingering impacts of Tropical Storm Helene in significantly altered outdoor spaces and waterways.
Another Helene REcovery milestone as the City launches RFQ for for design services to rebuild storm-damaged parks and infrastructure assets on Azalea Road
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) has a summer of water games, foam parties, and water-based pop-up programs for community members of all ages to chill out and beat the heat.
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) drives a colorful van full of games, art projects, and fun treasures to stoke the imagination into public parks and local neighborhoods throughout the summer. Rec ‘n’ Roll hosts Monday Imagination Days with free open play, Wednesday Theme Days with activities tied to a unique subject (advance registration required), and free pop-ups where anything can happen.
The City of Asheville is taking a significant step forward in its infrastructure recovery efforts by posting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design services to rebuild the parks system on the French Broad River. This milestone marks the beginning of a design plan to restore damaged City assets along the French Broad Riverfront parks system and establish a new vision for a more resilient and accessible riverfront.