Asheville Reporter

Carrier Park, a gem in the heart of Asheville, North Carolina, has a rich history rooted in environmental conservation and community development. This park, now the city's most visited, is part of an ongoing series by Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) that explores the unique histories of the city’s public parks and community centers.

In the 1950s, pollution had rendered the river running through Asheville virtually lifeless, leading to several native fish and aquatic species becoming extinct. However, a group committed to social, environmental, and economic vision for local waterways led a riverfront renaissance. Their efforts resulted in the creation of Carrier Park.

Asheville’s riverfront recreation dates back thousands of years. The confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers marked the eastern boundary of Cherokee homelands in western North Carolina. Trails established by them along waterways and through forests eventually turned into stagecoach trails like Buncombe Turnpike, then railroads, and finally modern roads and greenways.

The arrival of railroads in the 1880s transformed Asheville from a livestock town into an economic hub. The riverfront district became one of the area’s primary industrial areas due to its proximity to the railway.

Edwin Carrier began developing West Asheville in the 1880s. As owner of Sulphur Springs Hotel, he implemented an electric trolley system in 1891 to ferry passengers to his hotel and saw potential in opening a race track along the French Broad River for his guests' entertainment.

Carrier's family settled in Asheville after being captivated by its beauty during their trip from Pennsylvania to Florida. He used his fortune earned from lumber business to purchase land west and north of the French Broad River. He formed West Asheville Improvement Company and began modern development projects such as Sulphur Springs Hotel in 1886.

Carrier also built a low wooden dam across Hominy Creek and constructed a power plant, the first hydroelectric plant in western North Carolina. He also built Carrier’s Bridge, a 250-foot steel bridge spanning the French Broad at its junction with the Swannanoa. In 1892, he created a race track near today’s Carrier Park.

Over the following decades, Carrier's Field served various purposes, including as a small local airport opened by Dr. J.E. Owen in 1925 and as New Asheville Speedway in 1960.

However, by the 1950s, population growth and industrialization turned the French Broad into an open cesspool with floating garbage and chemical runoff. The lack of public access to the river was a major problem for recreational canoeists, hunters, and people looking to fish.

In response to this environmental crisis, locals committed to rescuing the French Broad River unveiled Asheville’s Riverfront Plan in 1989. French Broad River Park opened in 1995 and expanded over time to include additional parks and trails.

In 1998, environmental nonprofit RiverLink purchased New Asheville Motor Speedway with intentions to create a new park. The City of Asheville acquired the property from RiverLink and worked closely with them to create what is now known as Carrier Park.

Following a series of public meetings, APR and RiverLink implemented an ambitious fundraising plan to raise more than $2 million for the park. As funding sources were secured, their vision came to life with various amenities such as volleyball court, roller hockey rink, playground, basketball court, lawn bowling and trails being added.

Carrier Park remains Asheville’s most visited park today as APR continues developing other large public recreation areas such as Azalea and Richmond Hill parks.