Asheville Reporter

Asheville Parks & Recreation has announced an upcoming project aimed at addressing a common challenge faced by festival and event organizers in Pack Square Park’s Roger McGuire Green. The current “cool season” grass will be replaced with “warm season” hybrid bermudagrass, which is better suited for the spring, summer, and fall months when most events occur.

To facilitate this transition, sections of Roger McGuire Green and Reuter Terrace will be closed from June 17 to July 5. During this period, soil preparation, sod installation, and root establishment will take place. However, other areas such as Splasheville, Bascom Lamar Lunsford Stage, J. Rush Oates Plaza, and the pavilion with restrooms will remain open.

D. Tyrell McGirt, Director of Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR), commented on the initiative: “Parks and outdoor spaces see much more use during warmer months as people want to enjoy the natural beauty of our city or attend the many outdoor special events Asheville is known for. This opportunity for our team to work smarter means more access to Pack Square Park for the community and more time we can spend maintaining and improving parks in other parts of the city to keep them safe, clean and welcoming.”

McGirt emphasized that this project highlights APR’s innovative approach to park management: “The new grass is designed to thrive in summer and actively restore itself with less water and support than the current lawn.”

In preparation for the closure starting June 17, APR team members will begin prepping the area. A temporary fence will be erected around Roger McGuire Green and Reuter Terrace during this period.

Despite these closures, community events like Movies in the Park’s showing of Barbie on June 14 and Splasheville Days on June 15-16 will proceed as scheduled. Following the project’s completion, Splasheville Days are set to return on July 6-7, along with a special tenth anniversary showing of Guardians of the Galaxy on July 12 as part of Movies in the Park.

The City of Asheville’s Office of Special Events within the Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities department oversees event permits for parks and other public spaces. For additional information about APR's facilities or TifTuf Bermudagrass used in this project, resources are available online.

Asheville Parks & Recreation manages over 65 public parks alongside various recreational facilities throughout Asheville. Established in the 1890s, it was also recognized as the first nationally-accredited municipal recreation department in the United States.

For ongoing updates from Asheville Parks & Recreation, individuals can subscribe to their monthly newsletter or follow their social media accounts on Facebook (@aprca) and Instagram (@ashevilleparksandrecreation).