Park Development

Since 1987, RiverLink has been advocating for greenway and park development in the floodplain along the entire length of the French Broad River. Use of the floodplain for recreation, both passive and active, and as economic revitalization and environmental clean-up tool are the centerpiece of RiverLink’s activities these past 20 years. Our primary goal is for the entire watershed to be RiverLinked!

RiverLink selected the Asheville urban riverfront as its initial “demonstration” area for river greenway and park development due to the visibility of the river in the urban Asheville area, and the population and tax base the city offered.

Master Plans

To ground the process of park and greenway development RiverLink created three major and distinct mater plans. All of the mater plans have been adopted by local government and therefore are eligible for funding under the DOT enhancement program for trails and parks.

The Riverfront Plan – was developed in 1989 in cooperation with the ASLA and the AIA. The charette that developed the plan was funded by a civil Works Planning grant. The Riverfront Plan was adopted by local governments, won the American Planning Association Award and was featured in the June 1990 issue of National Geographic as a new greenway initiative for WNC. The Riverfront Plan defines and makes recommendations in three specific areas:

1.) relationship and connections between the downtown and the river

2.) The river within the city limits

3.) The watershed

The Asheville Riverfront Open Space Design Guidelines was funded through the NC Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts. It was created during a series of charettes in 1990 and is part of the zoning code for the City of Asheville. The Design Guidelines create a vision for long-term aesthetic development of open space in the riparian corridor. These guidelines have guided development of all the parks and greenways built along the river corridor since 1990. Design Guidelines are given for signage, landscaping, art in the public space, trails, fishing piers, structures and logos. In essence, Design Guidelines advocates celebrating what is unique about WNC in every aspect of open space development.

The Wilma Dykeman RiverWay – please click here for details

Turning the Plans into Parks and Greenways

PHASE I of the French Broad River Greenway

The French Broad River Park on Amboy Road is the first greenway built in the city of Asheville or the watershed. It was dedicated with a 21-gun salute, a marching band and thousands of happy and excited citizens in September 1994. RiverLink was instrumental in convincing CP&L to donate the land for this river park development. The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation gave RiverLink a grant to hire a landscape architecture firm to develop the master plan and construction drawings. Our architects successfully integrated the rooflines of the old Riverside Park (1904 – 1916) into the new French Broad River Park infusing it with a sense of history. RiverLink also initiated the sale of one-foot sections of greenway, called “deeds of support.” For $45 per foot, everybody can own a piece of the greenway. Every penny raised from the sale of “Deeds of Support” is used to develop greenways along the river. RiverLink also raised the funds needed to install picnic tables, benches, bike racks, bollards and other amenities that make the greenways at French Broad River Park PHASE I, II and III user friendly and comfortable. RiverLink was vital in operating the park for the first two year. The French Broad River Park is now maintained by the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation Department.

PHASE II of the French Broad River Greenway

In September 1995, Phase II of French Broad River Park was opened to the public, with another loop of greenway trail. Over the years, with lots of help from volunteers, a dog park and wildflower gardens have been added. The park won the 21st Century American heritage Park Award naming it one of the 10 best parks in the USA funded with a land and water conservation fund grant. The park has been designated as a model for recreation, open space and conservation

PHASE III of the French Broad River Greenway

In 1999, a new section of greenway, Phase III, with a handicapped accessible fishing pier was funded by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and installed overlooking the French Broad River. The greenway trail was also extended along the river next to Amboy Road, extending the walking/biking trail opportunities even further.

The Old Asheville Speedway - Carrier Park

1999 was also the year the RiverLink purchased the former Asheville Motor Speedway, a 50-acre motor racetrack on Amboy Road. To purchase and develop the old Speedway into what has become the most used recreational facility in the city of Asheville RiverLink raised over $1.6 million dollars. In 1999, RiverLink donated the Speedway, with a conservation easement, to the City of Asheville. This was the largest cash value donation to the city in its history. The old Speedway has been rechristened Carrier Park and now boasts a variety of family fun activities that attract visitors from all over the region. The park included various ammenities such as:

A resurfaced racetrack that invites cyclist and cycling races – and has been dubbed the mellowdrome. This popular track hosts the Rumble on the River and other racing series each summer- Check out their schedule at www.mellowdrome.com!
A playground built with 1,000 volunteers in 5 days!
An outdoor education wetland/stormwater Education Center.
7 Bocce ball /Lawn Bowling Courts.
8 Volley ball CourtBasketball Court.
In-Line Skating rink that attracts all ages of teams and competitors. Check out their website at www.ashevillehockey.org.
A combination baseball/soccer field.

Hominy Creek Park

In 2005, the Buncombe County Commissioners by the request of RiverLink donated a con-servation easement to Hominy Creek Park. RiverLink consulted with the neighborhood and other interested parties before hiring a landscape architect to develop a plan to bring new life to this very busy river access facility. Part of the plan included introducing a “Dog Bark Park” and artists designed and built benches, picnic tables, and other park amenities.

The DOT enhancement program has funded a 2-mile river trail from the old Speedway to Hominy Creek Park. The DOT has also funded a greenway trail and sidewalk from the Farmer’s Market (just above Hominy Creek Park) to the Toyota Dealership on NC Route 191. See the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay power point for more information regarding greenway development.

Conservation Easements

RiverLink currently holds several conservation easements in riparian areas along the rivers of WNC.

Long Shoals Road at the Intersection of Ledbetter Road – this conservation easement is a bright green spot in the middle of a rapidly developing section of Buncombe County. This easement was donated to RiverLink by Joy and Ed Bullock. Joy’s family has owned the land in this area for generations. The Bullocks were especially interested in putting a little land aside so that future generations could enjoy access and fishing on the French Broad.

Azalea Road – RiverLink owns three conservation easements along Azalea Road and over three-acres that span both sides of the Swannanoa River. RiverLink also holds a conservation easement over the city owned Azalea Park Soccer Complex. These conservation easements will eventually become part of the Wilma Dykeman Greenway system.

RiverLink is currently working on additional conservation easements in Weaverville and along the river in Madison County

FEMA Land for Parks and Greenways

RiverLink is excited that FEMA mitigation money was used to purchase property in the urban riverfront across from its historic Asheville Cotton Mill on Riverside Drive. Due to the FEMA restrictions, this land can only be used for park and greenway development.

RiverLink is continuing to pursue FEMA buyout properties for park and greenway development.

Contaminated Land for Parks

RiverLink worked with Progress Energy over a 10-year period to clean-up a highly contaminated, former manufactured gas site on Riverside Drive. Progress Energy spent over $3 million dollars to clean up this site across from RiverLink’s Warehouse Studios in the urban riverfront. This now clean parcel is a welcomed addition to the urban greenway system and the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan. NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources has placed a variety of deed restrictions on the property, which will ensure it will be a public park facility in perpetuity.