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