Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Capital Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Buncombe County reports park repairs, design contracts and a $4 million sports-park grant
Summary
Parks staff said six of seven river parks are open, Cane Creek soccer fields are being resodded, Alexander River Park remains closed for stream-bank loss, RFQs are underway for Harmony peninsula design, and the county received an initial $4 million tourism-development grant for turf fields.
Allison Daines, director of Buncombe County Parks and Recreation, updated the advisory board on park conditions and capital projects during the Sept. 9 meeting.
Daines said six of seven river parks are open; Alexander River Park remained closed because the river removed an estimated six to eight feet of bank and the county is pursuing FEMA and other funding to support restoration. "Alexander River Park sustained a great deal of land loss," she said, and staff expect the project to be at least a year from opening while funding and design are assembled.
Cane Creek soccer fields — which had been used as a debris staging site — have been regraded and are being resodded. Daines said the contractor opted to resod rather than overseed; the field will need an additional six to eight weeks to take root before public use.
The county issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for engineering and design work on the Harmony River Park peninsula. Daines said contract negotiations were underway with respondents and the county hopes to finalize an agreement by mid-October to redesign the peninsula, improve accessible river entry and plan a future greenway tie-in.
Daines also reported the county is in final negotiations on contract for Owen Park engineering and design after the Swannanoa River eroded approximately 45 feet into the park. She said there will be a substantial community engagement process once design work is underway.
On sports facilities, Daines said the county has requested additional funding from the Tourism Development Authority for turf and lights at three fields (Fields 3, 4 and 5 and Field 9 at the Buncombe County Sports Park) and already received an initial $4,000,000 award to start the project. The county expects bids back at the end of the month; construction would take about eight months after contract award.
Daines noted Karpon Field on Reams Creek remains closed because the walking path washed out and engineers must confirm the field is not undercut before reopening. Staff estimated a three- to four-month timeline to confirm safety and repair the path.
Ending: Daines said staff will return to the advisory board with finalized contracts and community engagement plans for Harmony and Owen parks, and with construction schedules for sports-park turf fields once bids and additional funding are confirmed.
