Trey Irby speaks to members of the Burton Street Community about their Helene experience

Stronger Together: Stories from AVL’s neighborhoods post-Helene

As Helene recovery continues to unfold, strengthening our ability to withstand and bounce back from future disruptions, our community continues to reflect on the ways that we came together as neighbors. As part of the reflection, city staff spent time interviewing community members to understand what happened in the aftermath of Helene and how people responded.

Christin King wears pink Asheville Parks & Recreation shirt

APR Innovators: Christin King

APR Innovators is an Asheville Parks & Recreation series highlighting team members going above and beyond to bring huge value to community members through knowledge, connections, and insight that come from a desire to create the best city possible through the power of high-quality recreation programs and safe parks that welcome everyone.

brick sidewalks and monument sign at aston park

Controlled burn planned for early December near Aston Park

UPDATE December 2 at 9:30 a.m.: A controlled burn planned near Aston Park for Wednesday, December 3, 2025, has been postponed. A new date has not been determined, but the Asheville Fire Department will alert the media, surrounding residents, and businesses within 48 hours of the new date via AVL Alerts.

goats eat vegetation near Stephens Lee Community Center

Goats, Fire, and Science: Vegetation Management in Asheville’s Parks Builds Resiliency

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to keep Asheville’s parks beautiful, healthy, and thriving for people, plants, and animals? Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) uses a variety of tools and techniques to manage diverse plant life in the city’s public recreation spaces – ranging from goats to controlled fire.

aerial view of a field with title Discovering the world through GIS

World GIS Day: Celebrating the Power of Mapping in Asheville

November 19, 2025 is GIS Day, where folks around the world celebrate geographic data and technology. GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, are systems that collect, store, analyze, manage, and present spatial data, or data based on location. This year, the City of Asheville is celebrating by highlighting several interesting and innovative projects that are great examples of using GIS to help our community.