Asheville Reporter

As Asheville continues its recovery from the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Helene, the city's Parks & Recreation department (APR) is reopening community center buildings on Wednesday, November 6. This marks a step towards resuming normal operations, although many organized programs remain suspended.

APR Director D. Tyrell McGirt expressed enthusiasm about reopening these community hubs: “As we move into November and anticipate cooler weather, the APR team has been very eager to open the doors to these community hubs and welcome our neighbors back to play basketball, join card games, work out in fitness centers, and more.” He emphasized the importance of public recreation areas for Asheville's health and identity. “There is still a very long road ahead, but I’m proud we have made as much progress as we have in just over a month.”

While indoor facilities are now accessible for informal activities such as card games and sports like basketball and pickleball, most scheduled programs are paused. However, APR Afterschool programs resumed at community centers on October 28.

McGirt acknowledged the shared impact of the storm on residents and staff: “We live here and this storm affected our team too,” he said. Highlighting the role of parks in returning to normalcy, he added that when it is safe to resume regular programming like sports leagues or senior socials, "the APR fun experts have more than a few surprises in store."

Currently, over half of APR’s locations are operational. The department cautions against entering closed parks due to potential hazards such as broken equipment or unstable slopes. Rental services for picnic shelters or field spaces remain unavailable during this phase.

For updates on park openings and program resumptions, residents can subscribe to APR’s newsletter or visit their website. Additionally, financial aid through SOAR may be available for families affected by the storm.