Buncombe County details post‑hurricane park recovery, river debris work and timelines for Owen Park rebuild

Alice Dabanes, the director of the corporation, told the Buncombe County Parks & Recreation Corporation Advisory Board that the county’s park system remains in response mode after Hurricane Helene and that staff are continuing damage inventories with insurers and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to seek reimbursement and plan repairs.

“This is the first step in working with FEMA to get reimbursed for damages,” Dabanes said, describing a process in which insured losses are handled by the county’s insurance carriers first and then, if not covered, are submitted to FEMA for possible reimbursement.

The county has conducted multiple park walk‑throughs, completed arborist risk assessments and removed trees judged to be imminent hazards before reopening sites. Dabanes said hundreds of trees were lost across the system and that tree assessments will likely be done on a biannual basis going forward to ensure safety.

Why it matters: Buncombe County’s parks and greenways are used by residents for recreation, youth sports and tourism. The scale of damage, the need for debris removal from rivers and the duration of repairs will affect summer programming, field availability and longer‑term capital projects.

Most important recovery items - River debris and “toll” sites: Dabanes said six of the county’s seven river parks are serving as temporary off‑loading sites where Army Corps contractors stage river debris removed from waterways. The Army Corps is conducting the waterway cleanup; sites are inspected and returned to the county when work is complete. The county plans interim remediation such as hydroseeding and live‑stake plantings to stabilize banks before reopening. - Master plan: The county has restarted its systemwide parks master plan, paused after the hurricane, and has asked consultants to amend their contract to reengage the community and account for post‑hurricane needs; Dabanes estimated that amendment work will extend the master‑planning process by about nine to 12 months. - Insurance, FEMA and HMGP properties: Damages that fall under county insurance are being processed first; items determined by insurers to be uninsured may be submitted to FEMA. Dabanes also discussed the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), noting that parcels acquired through buyouts could become county‑owned open space or parkland if the jurisdiction declines them, and that any resulting transfers will be evaluated over multiple years.

Projects and timelines cited in the meeting - Owen Park: An RFQ for engineering and design is open and closes May 30. County staff said they plan community engagement in fall and winter, aim for construction documents in spring 2026, and estimate an approximately 18‑month construction period after contracting—placing a likely reopening in late 2027 or early 2028 if funding and schedules hold. - Sports Park (turf fields and lighting): Joseph (project staff) said the turf field project remains on schedule with lighting design underway; the turf replacement for fields destroyed in flooding is moving toward a projected spring opening for the new turf fields funded through previously budgeted TDA funds. - Greenways and NCDOT: Dabanes said the North Carolina Department of Transportation paused state‑funded greenway work after the storm but approved the county to resume in February with the expectation of amended scopes (additional surveys, geotechnical and hydraulic work and outreach). One assessment (Highway 251 section) has been submitted to NCDOT; Beaver Dam Creek and the Inka Heritage Trail sections remain under assessment before final submission. - Lake Julian: Dabanes said the wooden boards and battings that once regulated lake levels were designed to break in the storm and did so; she said Duke (company engineers) agreed to reinstall the board‑and‑batten structures even though the lake is no longer part of Duke’s cooling system. Duke’s work is expected to be complete this winter, after which lake levels will recover gradually with rainfall.

Pools, recreation programming and staffing - Pools: Dabanes announced, “All the county pools will be open as per schedule Memorial Day weekend,” listing five county pools (Cane Creek, Irwin, North Belknap, Kerwin and Owen) and noting extended evening hours at several locations to meet higher demand this summer. - Programming: Recreation staff reported ongoing and upcoming events including youth fishing tournaments, disc golf tournaments and Special Olympics competitions; staff said they are taking programming into neighborhoods (for example a bike rodeo at a housing complex). - Staffing: Dabanes announced that Principal Park Planner Thomas Gall has moved out of the area; the county plans to advertise the position in June with a hoped‑for start date in August.

Financial and implementation notes - Funding sources mentioned during the meeting include county insurance, FEMA reimbursements, HMGP (potentially for acquired parcels), Tourism Development Authority (TDA) funds (already allocated to some projects) and an ADA grant for playground improvements. - The county cautioned that many projects depend on third‑party approvals, amended scopes and the closeout of Army Corps debris sites before full remediation and reopening can occur.

What the advisory board directed or will do next - Staff said they will submit amended scopes and assessments to NCDOT as required and proceed with RFQs/RFPs for parks design and construction when consultant contracts are finalized. - Joseph and staff will move forward with design contracts for playgrounds, a ranger station and a pavilion as contract negotiations conclude.

Quotes from the meeting - “I am Alice Dabanes, the director of corporation,” Dabanes opened the director’s report. - “All the county pools will be open as per schedule Memorial Day weekend,” Dabanes said when announcing summer openings.

Ending: Advisory board members asked questions about specific park reopenings, district representation for upcoming advisory board vacancies and volunteered to assist with application review for open seats. The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn was made.