Asheville Unveils Riverfront Park Design Concepts, Seeks Public Input

Parks and Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt made clear from the start that restoration was never the goal. "We have zero interest in just simply building back what was there before," McGirt told the Citizen-Times at a February 28 community design workshop. "Helene has presented us with an opportunity to better enhance these park spaces, to do something bigger, better, special."

The City of Asheville on March 10 unveiled multiple design concepts for rebuilding miles of riverfront parks and greenways along the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, both still bearing the scars of Tropical Storm Helene's September 2024 flooding. The concepts cover two separate projects: the French Broad Riverfront Parks, stretching citywide, and the Azalea Parks and Infrastructure project along Azalea Road in East Asheville.

Boston-based Sasaki is leading the French Broad redesign, presenting three concepts organized around distinct themes: ecology and water systems, recreation and activity, and art and community. One concept, titled "Respecting the River," centers river restoration and passive recreation. The others look at activating the corridor for community use and creating what designers describe as a community canvas celebrating Asheville's arts culture.

The Azalea project, led by Philadelphia-based OLIN, offers two diverging visions. The first, "Restore, Protect, Connect," repairs and rebuilds existing structures in their current locations while hardening them against future floods, with expanded trails and river access possible as additional funding materializes. The second, "Reposition, Elevate, Connect," takes a more transformative approach: moving the Recreation Park Pool to higher ground, establishing a new park hub south of the soccer fields, and eventually adding a disc-golf course and new river access point.

Residents are not being asked to choose one concept wholesale. Instead, the City is inviting the public to identify favorite elements from across all options, which design teams will then synthesize into a final unified design expected to be released in late spring or early summer. That process builds on an initial engagement phase conducted in late 2025, when residents shared priorities around park amenities, accessibility, and environmental restoration.

"We heard you, and now we want to show you how the community's feedback is taking shape," said McGirt, who also serves as Staff Liaison to the Helene Infrastructure Recovery Board. "This next phase of engagement is about helping us narrow down our plan for a resilient, vibrant riverfront that aligns with the people who use these spaces every day."

Input can be submitted through online surveys and at drop-in design workshops scheduled around the city. Both projects also incorporate feedback from recovery boards and Asheville Parks and Recreation's Recreate Asheville plan.

Funding for both projects is anticipated through three federal channels: the FEMA Public Assistance program, the city's allocation of $225 million in disaster recovery funds, and Hazard Mitigation Grant program dollars. The design phase for both the Azalea and French Broad projects is planned to run through 2026 and into early 2027, followed by phased construction.

Azalea, French Broad River, and Recreation parks remain closed while the work moves forward, though most other city parks have reopened. Concept graphics and survey links are available through the City of Asheville's parks and recreation pages.