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 and its commitment to creating a varied and resilient system for all community members.
NCASLA’s annual awards celebrate significant achievements in landscape architecture, promoting stewardship of the environment and recognizing outstanding work across North Carolina. The award for the Recreate Asheville plan was accepted by APR Assistant Director Pete Wall and the plan’s dedicated consultant team including representatives from Design Workshop and Just Cities Collective, highlighting the power of subject matter experts in landscape architecture, planning, and urban design with a goal to create fair, sustainable, and modern parks and recreation opportunities.
Meeting the Moment
“Recreate Asheville establishes a transformative 10-year vision, positioning Asheville’s public parks and recreation system as critical infrastructure capable of addressing pressing community and environmental challenges,” according to APR Director D. Tyrell McGirt. “Beyond traditional recreation, the plan emphasizes public health, civic pride, climate resilience, and community connections. It is grounded in deep analysis, including GIS mapping of demographic and social determinants of health, field data on park assets, and an extensive public engagement process that produced highly-reliable data. This robust foundation prioritizes strategies to serve the full Asheville community, redefining all-encompassing access to ensure not only proximity but also access to safe, complete, and welcoming parks and recreation experiences.”
A cornerstone of the Recreate Asheville plan’s success is its community-driven approach. Thousands of Asheville residents contributed their voices, ideas, and aspirations through surveys, workshops, and pop-up events. This extensive collaboration was vital in shaping a shared vision for the city’s parks and recreation future. The award acknowledges how this community-centric process has paved the way for high-quality recreation opportunities and vibrant park spaces that benefit everyone who calls Asheville home.
For more information about the Recreate Asheville plan, please visit recreateasheville.com.
Park Bench Chats
Building on the momentum of Recreate Asheville’s robust community engagement, APR has continued the conversation through “Park Bench Chats” over the past year. These informal gatherings provide residents with direct opportunities to share ideas and provide feedback on the future of the city’s park spaces and recreation offerings with department leadership. In this sense, the Recreate Asheville plan provides a framework, but ongoing dialogue with the community is essential for its strategic execution.
Upcoming Park Bench Chat Dates:
- Tuesday, July 22 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Roger Farmer Park on 71 Deaverview Rd.
- Wednesday, October 15 from 3-6 p.m. at Jake Rusher Park on 160 Sycamore Dr.
- Tuesday, February 3 from 3-6 p.m. at Weaver Park on 200 Murdock Ave.
- Wednesday, May 13 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Haw Creek Park on 40 Avon Rd.
- Can’t make it in person? Community members may also submit thoughts and suggestions to dtmcgirt@ashevillenc.gov anytime.
Park Bench Chats registration is limited and opens 45 days prior to each event on the City of Asheville’s website.