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Town updates on parks and river repairs, FEMA applications and river-replanting proposals
Summary
Staff briefed the committee on Riverside Park repairs, Silverline Park reconstruction bids, FEMA applications, and two Asheville Greenworks proposals for river cleanup and native-plant propagation; council supported cleanup funding but was reluctant to fund $53,000 in startup greenhouse costs.
Town staff updated the Parks and Greenways Advisory Committee on post-Hurricane Helene recovery work, FEMA applications and proposals to support river cleanup and riparian replanting.
Staff reported that site visits and FEMA application submissions for Riverside Park and Silverline Park repairs are complete and the town is waiting FEMA’s responses. Riverside Park work includes streambank repairs; staff said the contractor has begun some repairs and that the project work will continue as FEMA processes claims. For Silverline Park the town plans to draft bid documents and expects to start reconstruction work, including new restrooms, by the summer.
Staff also updated the committee on the river wave (an engineered river feature): survey and monitoring following the storm indicated channel widening during the flood, but subsequent data showed surface water levels similar to pre-storm levels. Staff said a recommended modification to improve long-term resilience will be incorporated and that a coffer dam will be used during repairs so crews can inspect the riverbed and remove debris that may pose hazards before work proceeds.
Asheville Greenworks submitted two proposals the town requested: one for additional river cleanup (volunteer coordination and on-the-ground cleanup) and one for start-up costs to create greenhouse propagation infrastructure to grow native material (including river cane) for bank restoration. Staff said the town council supported the river-cleanup proposal and supported providing the town-leased "Craggy Motors" property as a propagation site but expressed reluctance to use the town general fund for the roughly $53,000 startup cost; staff said they will pursue grant and partner funding.
Volunteer activity and cleanups were also discussed: the most recent volunteer weekend drew about 51 people on Saturday and 45 on Sunday and filled a town-provided dumpster. Staff and volunteer coordinators said they are scheduling more cleanups, including sessions focused on accessibility and invasive-species removal, and will create a volunteer database to streamline future events.
Committee members asked about reopening parks and commercial river use. Staff advised that Silverline Park will not be officially reopened while construction is planned and that commercial river operators had permits but had not yet decided to use Silverline this season. Staff said public notices and coordinated outreach through partners such as MountainTrue and Greenworks will be used to publicize volunteer opportunities and recovery milestones.
