Project Overview

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the NC Department of Public Safety, North Carolina Office of State Archaeology, the State Historic Preservation Office, and Western Carolina University (WCU), is advancing debris removal and restoration efforts at Riverside Cemetery following damage from Tropical Storm Helene under the North Carolina Emergency Management SMART program. The environmental scope of work is now complete, and a State contractor assessment was conducted on June 5, 2025.  Debris removal is expected to begin  July 21, 2025, with archaeological monitoring in place at 23 designated locations to preserve historically sensitive areas. This work follows an earlier archaeological assessment by WCU students that will help guide safe stump removal and ensure compliance with FEMA Environmental Historic Preservation (EHP) guidelines. Future phases of the project will focus on repairing damaged monuments and completing final restoration work.

For background information please visit the Public Input project page here.

Contact 

Jonathan Neary 

Riverside Cemetery Supervisor

Asheville Parks & Recreation

(828) 707-8491

jneary@ashevillenc.gov

Related Services

Information about disposing of large or unusual items such as furniture, household hazardous waste, or appliances. As well as instructions for brush, leaves, or Christmas trees.

Information on what can be recycled, how to prepare items for collection, and composting.

Register for parks & recreation programming such as camps and activities for children, teens, and adults.

Report a pothole in a city street

Potholes – We’re Working on It! Maintaining the over 400 miles of road within the City of Asheville is a top priority. Currently, there are a number of pending requests for street maintenance, and the City wants to share the process for fulfilling these requests. Our ability to address pothole repair requests has been impacted by Tropical Storm [...]

Reserve a Bear Resistant Trash Cart

The City of Asheville is implementing a pilot program to provide bear-resistant trash carts to residents.  There are a limited number of carts available for the pilot program - you can sign up to be put on a waiting list for the next available carts.

Litter Programs

Join the Adopt-a-Street Program to help reduce litter in the City of Asheville.

Holiday schedule updates

View holiday collection schedules to see how holidays will impact your recycling, trash, or other collection services.

Related Departments

Public Works

The Public Works Department provides essential core services that include construction and maintenance of City streets, sidewalks, and stormwater infrastructure, as well as solid waste management, to Asheville citizens and visitors in a prompt, professional, efficient, and safe manner. The dedicated employees of the Public Works Department strive to provide these services equitably to all [...]

summer camp rafters

Asheville Parks & Recreation

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) manages a unique collection of 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 programs related to wellness, education, and culture for Ashevillians of all ages.