Asheville Reporter

Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) is seeking community feedback for their Recreate Asheville: Shaping Our City’s Parks plan, a comprehensive strategy to guide the city's parks and recreation decisions for the next decade or more.

D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director, expressed excitement about the upcoming workshops and survey, stating, “This is really exciting because we’re starting to fine tune what will become the final community-built plan." He emphasized the importance of incorporating feedback from the community to draft a vision plan that will shape the future of Asheville's parks and recreation.

The Recreate Asheville plan serves as a framework for future investments in recreation programs and spaces, setting the vision and values for citywide developments. It is not a detailed operational model or financial budget but aims to guide investments throughout the city.

Community members are encouraged to participate by sharing information about the plan and attending feedback opportunities. The city is offering complimentary transit vouchers for those attending workshops via ART buses.

Various feedback opportunities are available, including an online survey from March 27 to April 15 and virtual community meetings with town hall-style comment periods. Drop-in open house community meetings will also be held at different locations throughout the city, providing hands-on activities and direct interactions with APR staff.

Asheville Parks & Recreation manages a diverse portfolio of public parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities dating back to the 1890s. The department offers a wide range of programs for all ages and promotes community engagement through greenways and trails.

For more information and updates, residents can sign up for APR's monthly newsletter, follow the department on social media, or visit their website at www.ashevillenc.gov/parks.