ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The city of Asheville is taking a phased approach to reopening parks and public spaces damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, as federal inspections are completed and areas are deemed safe.

City officials said the full rebuilding of parks, greenways and other public infrastructure along the storm-damaged corridor is expected to take years.

“City staff have been picking up extra work assignments and working around the clock to document damages and assess temporary measures to not only get these spaces accessible to our community but to ensure FEMA understands the depth and breadth of the impact from Helene on our public lands,” Bridget Herring, the city’s recovery coordinator, said in a news release.

Officials thanked the community for its cooperation and urged visitors to use caution when returning to reopened areas. Park-goers are asked to follow posted signs, respect barriers and heed instructions from staff regarding closures or hazards.

For more tips on exploring outdoor spaces post-Helene, check out this article.

French Broad riverfront areas

Fully open

  • Amboy Riverfront Park
  • Craven Street Trailhead Park
  • Craven Street Bridge Boating Access Area
  • Jean Webb Park
  • Wilma Dykeman Greenway

Partially open

  • Carrier Park’s picnic shelter and adjacent wetlands educational area, rolling lawn and east parking lot are open (the west side of the park remains closed except for French Broad River Greenway)
  • French Broad River Greenway is open from Hominy Creek River Park to Amboy Riverfront Park and Craven Street to French Broad River Park (the portion within French Broad River Park to Amboy Riverfront Park remains closed)

Fully closed

  • French Broad River Park
  • Pearson Bridge River Access Area

In areas now accessible to the public, visitors should be aware that certain sections within these parks and greenways may have sustained catastrophic damage and remain closed at this time or have temporary detours in place. Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) were recently posted for design services to rebuild Helene-related damage to public areas along the French Broad River and in the Azalea Road area.

For general information about Asheville’s storm recovery, visit ashevillerecovers.org. For more information about Helene Recovery Projects, visit the Projects tab.