Asheville Nears Final Design for Historic Walton Street Pool in Southside
Walton Street Pool, opened July 5, 1948 and closed in summer 2021, is moving toward a final design that PublicInput says will be shared in 2026; construction is targeted for late 2026.
City planners, Southside neighbors and design professionals say a final design for the historic Walton Street pool site is close, with PublicInput announcing that results from public comments will be used to refine a plan “which will be shared in 2026.” Interim Capital Management Department Director Walter Ear told City Council on Feb. 24 the team does not intend to pick one of two presented options but to blend preferred elements, and that the project “is a project that has taken ‘a long time to unpack.’”
The effort aims to preserve the pool and bathhouse fabric while repurposing the historic pool area. PublicInput frames the goal in full: “In collaboration with the Southside community, the City of Asheville aims to revitalize and preserve the historic character of Walton Street Pool by retaining key architectural elements and honoring its legacy through a vibrant reimagined use that integrates modern amenities while respecting the pool and bathhouse's historic fabric to serve the surrounding neighborhood and be enjoyed for generations to come.” Renderings shown on the project page include an outdoor gallery, skate space, fitness equipment, vendor spots and commemorative elements, and build on prior park work including a new playground, a paved walking loop, additional lighting and safety enhancements, and a mural on the rebuilt basketball court.
Walton Street Park predates the pool, with the park cited as opening in 1939 and Walton Street Pool officially opening on July 5, 1948. The park and pool now have local landmark status and a place on the National Register of Historic Places; the registration form calls Walton Street Park and pool “one of the very few landmarks of Black Asheville that remain standing today.” The site was established as a sanctioned municipal recreational space for Black Asheville during Jim Crow, and its continued preservation has been a central justification for the current project.
Maintenance history drove the closure: a 2016 professional evaluation found major leaks and failing underground pipes and recommended replacement rather than patchwork renovation. Walton Street Pool has been closed since summer 2021. After the closure, Asheville Parks & Recreation contracted with the YWCA of Asheville to provide Southside residents pool access at no charge and offered free bus rides to Malvern Hills and Recreation parks in summer 2021; in 2022 APR hosted multiple Walton Street Water Days with free water-based activities in the park.
Project leadership remains a partnership of the Southside United Neighborhood Association steering committee, City of Asheville staff and design professionals. Public comments on the concepts closed on December 15, and PublicInput thanked respondents while noting renderings “created based on your feedback for the next exciting phase of revitalizing Walton Street Park are ready for your review!” Plans are set to be reviewed by the Historic Resources Commission later “this spring,” and city materials anticipate construction starting in late 2026 if timelines hold. Professional project managers will next translate the community vision into code-compliant, cost-estimated designs ahead of Historic Resources Commission review and procurement.
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