Splasheville scheduled to open Saturday, Pritchard Park closes next week for repairs, and other Asheville Parks & Recreation updates

Scenes from Pritchard Park.

Asheville Parks & Recreation has completed repairs and enhancements to Splasheville in Pack Square Park and plans to open the popular splash pad on Saturday, June 4. At the same time, the department announces a planned closure of Pritchard Park for repair to its iconic brickwork. Updates on additional projects are below.

Splasheville (80 Court Plaza)

Scheduled to Open on Saturday, June 4, at 10:30 a.m.

The interactive splash pad in Pack Square Park has been completely renovated to replace plumbing, wiring, control systems, surface tiles, and the supporting gridwork. Staff are now taking necessary steps to prepare the pool for operation and an additional announcement will be made as soon as the opening date is confirmed.  While these upgrades will decrease downtime for preventative maintenance, they also cement Splasheville’s place as a downtown showpiece. In fact, Asheville’s only public splash pad is the most technologically advanced in North Carolina with lights, water programming, and more high-quality improvements that offer community members a chance to cool off in the heart of downtown.

Pritchard Park (67 Patton Ave.)

Closes for repairs on Monday, June 6.

–Asheville’s small park flanked by Patton Ave., College St., and Haywood St. serves as a meeting space for locals, respite to connect with nature for downtown workers, and town square with a plethora of free events. To maintain the integrity of its brick bleachers, walls, and sidewalks, Pritchard Park will close for repairs on Monday, June 6. During this time, equipment may stir up dust and debris in the park. The work is expected to last through at least Wednesday, June 8, but the scope of repairs will not be fully known until work begins. Asheville Parks & Recreation staff will make every effort to complete the project before the weekly drum circle on Friday, June 10.

Roger Farmer Memorial Sports Park (71 Deaverview Rd.)

Community members from nearby neighborhoods approached Asheville Parks & Recreation earlier in the year about modifications to ball fields in this West Asheville park. Working with the community to create additional flexible outdoor space for football, cheerleading, and other sports, the department is converting one of the ballfields into a multi-use field. The scope of work includes removal of dugouts and a press box, drainage and stormwater improvements, and remediation of natural grass. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June. 

Charlie Bullman Park (719 New Haw Creek Road)

 Asheville Parks & Recreation staff are working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair flood damage to Charlie Bullman Park’s two athletic fields, concession stand, fencing, and entrance.

Update on City Pools

Resurfacing and other preventative repairs are almost complete at Recreation Park Pool (65 Gashes Creek Rd.). Following a satisfactory health inspection as early as next week, the pool will open on a daily operating schedule. Asheville Parks & Recreation staff are working diligently to replace deficient safety equipment at Malvern Hills Pool (75 Rumbough Pl.) so that local families can enjoy the pool as much as possible this summer. For information about pool schedules, swim lessons, and admission, visit ashevillecitypools.com. 

For more information on all Asheville Parks & Recreation projects, please visit the City of Asheville’s project updates page.

Asheville Parks & Recreation

Established in 1954, the Asheville Parks & Recreation Department manages a unique collection of more than 65 public parks, playgrounds, and open spaces throughout the city in a system that also includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, Riverside Cemetery, sports fields and courts, and community centers that offer a variety of wellness-, education-, and culture-related programs for Ashevillians of all ages. With 8 miles of paved greenways and numerous natural surface trails, its complete portfolio acts as the foundation of a vibrant hub for the people of Asheville to connect with their neighbors and explore the natural beauty of a livable and walkable city.

Driven by the promise that Asheville is a better and safer place when everyone from infants to retirees has the opportunity to be supported, healthy, and successful, Asheville Parks & Recreation was the first nationally-accredited municipal recreation department in the United States. For the latest updates, follow the department on Facebook @aprca and Instagram @ashevilleparksandrecreation or visit  www.ashevillenc.gov/parks.