ASHEVILLE – In mid-September, the city announced construction was underway for a section of the new Swannanoa River Greenway, what would eventually be a 7.5-mile path connecting into West Asheville and the River Arts District. It was the next step in the city’s growing greenway network.
Just days later, on Sept. 27, Tropical Storm Helene swept Western North Carolina, destroying homes, businesses, parks and roads. Lives were lost in the storm. Millions of cubic yards of debris were left behind. Areas along riversides, including those with multimillion dollar planned or existing greenways, were swallowed underwater as rivers crested at historic levels.
According to an initial rough assessment, the expected cost of damage to all public infrastructure in Asheville is estimated at nearly $1 billion, city spokesperson Meredeith Friedheim told the Citizen Times Dec. 2.
Of that, over $5 million is estimated to be the cost of damage to greenways and related infrastructure. She said the city is working closely with FEMA on the damage evaluation process, and once complete, will have a more accurate estimate.
Where the meandering riverside greenway was planned along the Swannanoa has now experienced “incredible damage,” Friedheim said, and timelines are “inevitably impacted.”
An update on the city website said while the project was initially estimated to take 12 months, due to damage from Helene, the area “needs to be re-surveyed to determine impacts on existing conditions.”
Riverfront Parks are the hardest hit
“Riverfront parks were the hardest hit with massive destruction left by this unprecedented event,” Asheville Parks and Recreation Director D. Tyrell McGirt said in a Nov. 25 update. “These park spaces are devastated but, as a park user myself, I’m encouraged by the prospect to rebuild smarter, stronger and in ways that make our city more resilient in the face of these natural disasters, such as floods.”
McGirt flashed a slide of before-and-after shots during his presentation: Green, tree-filled fields now coated in dirt. A playground splintered and leaning. A serene riverfront path transformed, earth eroding out from under asphalt.
As of that update, of the city’s parks locations, 39 were fully open, 13 partially open and 11 fully closed. Among the assets still closed is the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, which runs through the heavily hit River Arts District, and sections of the French Broad River Greenway.
On Dec. 4, more than two months after the storm, the asphalt of the Wilma Dykeman Greenway was still dusty with dried silt and mud. Debris piled in right-of-ways. Trees, brush and bamboo that were left standing, along with warped signage and other markers, leaned sharply. Several feet of chain-link fence had amassed nearby in a ball of tangled metal.
Damage to each of the greenways is largely located in isolated areas rather than to the entire length, Friedheim said. However, isolated damage can require long stretches to remain closed.
About 900 feet of the Wilma Dykeman Greenway and 200 feet of the French Broad River Greenway were washed out in Helene, the city said Dec. 3. It was not yet able to provide an assessment of other damages to the greenways, including guardrails, stormwater and lighting.
Re-opening of existing greenways is the priority, Friedheim said. While the Swannanoa greenway project is impacted, others, like the Nasty Branch Greenway, are still on track.
“Due to the vast amount of damage, restoration activities will need to be prioritized and implemented as time and resources permit,” she said.
Damage to the Parks maintenance facility?
Further complicating recovery, McGirt said Nov. 25, was damage to Asheville Parks and Recreation’s maintenance facility, which he said was “decimated” during the storm.
In 2023, the city announced it would consolidate most of its asset management team operations, responsible for maintaining and improving the city’s parks, into a single 2.6-acre campus at 81 Thompson St., which sits along the river near Biltmore Village. The area was flooded in the wake of Helene.
Friedheim said the “extensive damage” to the Thompson Street building forced staff to relocate indefinitely. They were unable to provide an estimate of damages at the location.
“While proactive steps were taken to relocate equipment and vehicles from flood-prone areas of the site, the unprecedented severity of Tropical Storm Helene prevented us from safely removing additional assets before the waters rose above historical levels,” she said via email.
“We are actively working to replace lost or damaged equipment, vehicles, and materials, following FEMA guidelines. While this disruption may temporarily impact our ability to maintain certain park areas, our team remains dedicated to serving the community by keeping our parks open and safe for public use.”
Parks spokesperson Christo Bubenik said the department is evaluating sites for an interim asset management facility while a new long-term location is found.
Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.