The Riverway: Some assembly required

Since its inception in 1987, RiverLink has worked toward a grand vision of redevelopment and conservation of the French Broad River basin. The grandest and most visible element of the nonprofit's plan is the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay, named for the local writer whose history of the river region, The French Broad, has gained a wide readership since its publication in 1954.

On maps, the riverway looks pretty simple – just draw lines around a couple dozen miles of river frontage along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers and color it green. On the ground, the proposition is just a bit more complicated: It requires stitching together a patchwork of parkland, one parcel at a time.

On the west bank of the river, the greenway currently extends from the French Broad River Park (opened in 1994) near the intersection of Amboy Road and Riverside Drive and follows the waterway to the 50-acre Carrier Park (formerly the Asheville Speedway, added in 1999) and on to Hominy Creek Park (linked via a conservation easement granted by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in 2005). As of late last month, the largest outstanding parcel in the section, the 5.3-acre site of the EDACO automobile-salvage yard, has been stitched into the RiverLink quilt.

Recently, Ted Tilson Wells, owner of the EDACO site, decided to contribute to the riverway project by selling his property to RiverLink below market value and financing the sale for five years. Coupled with what the organization terms "generous support" from Shelli and Bradford Stanback, RiverLink closed the deal Oct. 27.

Due to possible pollution resulting from 20 years of use as a salvage yard, RiverLink has submitted a formal request that the EDACO property be accepted into the N.C. Brownfields Program for assessment, and the property will remain fenced until any required remediation is complete. However, a paved walking/biking trail across the frontage on Amboy Road will be constructed immediately using already approved state Department of Transportation enhancement funds.

Though RiverLink will purchase the property with donations, the organization doesn't hold long-term title to properties. Eventually, the organization will convey the land to the city of Asheville for permanent recreational use. To finance the project, RiverLink is selling "Deeds of Support" for $50 per linear foot. Purchasers will receive personalized deed documents that are suitable for framing.

For more information, call 252-8474, ext. 118 or visit www.riverlink.org.

– Cecil Bothwell