Get Ready to Play: Asheville Community Centers Reopen

photo of community center with blue sky

As the city continues to recover from massive destruction brought by Tropical Storm Helene, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) is one step closer to returning to pre-storm operations as community center buildings reopen on Wednesday, November 6 for normal operating hours. As a City of Asheville department, many APR team members continue to aid in emergency response and most organized programs and activities are still on hold.

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“As we move into November and anticipate cooler weather, the APR team has been very eager to open the doors to these community hubs and welcome our neighbors back to play basketball, join card games, work out in fitness centers, and more,” according to APR Director D. Tyrell McGirt. “Access to Asheville’s parks, greenways, community centers, and other public recreation areas –  and the lasting memories and authentic connections that take place within them – are essential and fundamental rights, integral to the health, identity, and economic and environmental well-being of Asheville. There is still a very long road ahead, but I’m proud we have made as much progress as we have in just over a month.”

Community center buildings and outdoor spaces surrounding them including playgrounds, picnic areas, sports fields, and plazas are open, but most regularly scheduled programs and events are on hold. This means community members may enjoy informal card and tabletop games, fitness centers, and basketball, pickleball, volleyball, and other gym sports. APR Afterschool programs hosted at community centers began meeting on October 28.

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“We live here and this storm affected our team, too,” says McGirt. “I understand our deep human need to return to normalcy and how parks and recreation plays a vital role in the process. When we are safely able to resume sports leagues, tap dance classes, paint nights, senior socials, teen trivia, and all the favorite programs Ashevillians depend on us to host, our team will make sure everyone knows. The APR fun experts have more than a few surprises in store to let our city celebrate the mountain spirit that has gotten us this far this fast!”

More than half of APR’s locations are now open, but the department reminds community members that closed parks are not safe and only authorized staff are allowed to enter. Unauthorized use hinders crews as they work to safely and responsibly reopen locations. Though some spaces look safe, there may be broken equipment, sinkholes, weakened portions of greenways, hazard trees, unstable slopes, or other “unseen” dangers.

Picnic shelter, field space, and other rentals are not being taken during this phase of reopening, but APR hopes to resume those opportunities as the department returns to full capacity.

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