At its regular meeting on November 18, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners advanced several initiatives related to recovery and recreation. The Board adopted the multi-jurisdictional Buncombe County Tropical Storm Helene Recovery Plan, which outlines 114 recovery projects across seven local governments.
The Board also approved a contract with John R. McAdams Company for engineering and design services for Hominy River Park, which was heavily damaged during Tropical Storm Helene. The contract is valued at $159,432.50, and the design phase is expected to be completed by July 2026.
In addition, commissioners approved a budget amendment for Open Space Bond allocations supporting six passive recreation projects totaling $3,626,262. These projects are anticipated to make 221 acres newly accessible to the public and support 14 miles of trails or multi-use paths. The approved projects include Haw Creek Park Greenway (Haw Creek Community Association), Gateway Park (RiverLink), Hominy Creek Greenway (Asheville Greenworks/Friends of Hominy Creek), Improving Public Access & Use of Lands (Warren Wilson College), Riverside Park (Town of Woodfin), and Worx Community Forest Trail Development (Camp Grier).
Voters in Buncombe County had previously approved a $30 million general obligation bond in November 2022 to enhance greenway infrastructure, protect farmland and natural resources, and increase access to recreational activities. A subcommittee was established to guide funding decisions for these initiatives.
During the meeting, commissioners also received presentations from Asheville’s transit system about their Comprehensive Operational Assessment for Transit services but took no action on this item. Vaya Health gave an annual update on its programs and grants as one of four managed care organizations overseeing publicly funded mental health and disability services in North Carolina’s 32-county region.
Recent data from Buncombe County school districts shows that among senior students taking the ACT in the 2022-23 school year, about 28.5% were considered college-ready in science https://www.dpi.nc.gov/, while junior students had a slightly higher readiness rate at 30.1% https://www.dpi.nc.gov/. In reading, seniors reached a college readiness rate of 41.1% https://www.dpi.nc.gov/ compared with juniors at 43.2% https://www.dpi.nc.gov/. For math, readiness rates were lower: seniors at 25.6% https://www.dpi.nc.gov/ and juniors at 32.7% https://www.dpi.nc.gov/.
For more information about bond funding allocations or ongoing county projects visit the county’s official website.
