ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — City officials are planning to issue a Request for Qualifications to recruit a team of design and engineering experts for the restoration of Municipal Golf Course, which suffered severe damage from Tropical Storm Helene.
The request is a significant step forward in Asheville’s infrastructure recovery efforts. It marks the beginning of a strategic and coordinated approach to restoring and enhancing the city’s infrastructure following recent storm impacts, officials said.
The first storm recovery RFQ, posted last week, seeks design services for repairs to the front nine holes of the Municipal Golf Course.
As the city secures funding for overall storm recovery, officials aim to begin rebuilding where possible. The Municipal Golf Course, a designated historic site operated through a public-private partnership, will largely be restored to its pre-storm condition, with added resiliency and mitigation measures, city officials said in a news release.
The storm caused significant damage to the back nine holes, with more than 40 downed trees and damage to three bunkers, the news release said. Tree removal is underway, and bunker restoration is complete. The course reopened as a nine-hole course on Oct. 28, 2024, and will remain open throughout the restoration project.
“Advancing with this RFQ is a crucial step to prevent further loss of taxpayer dollars, as the city currently incurs net operational losses averaging $30,000 per month while the 18-hole course remains closed,” the news release said.
The Municipal Golf Course project is the first of many storm recovery initiatives. The city is carefully planning the sequence of additional projects to ensure an efficient and effective rebuilding process.
Reflecting Asheville’s commitment to a coordinated and resilient recovery strategy, municipal land management will be a key focus. The RFQ process will allow the city to select a design team with the expertise needed to maximize eligibility for mitigation funding, ensuring projects are not only restored but also strengthened against future environmental challenges.