ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville officials say repairs to Weaver Park’s baseball field should be finished by the end of December, but some playground improvements could take much longer, leaving questions about when the troubled $800,000 renovation will finally be complete.
The project came under renewed scrutiny during an Oct. 22 City Council agenda briefing, where council members questioned why the city is still fixing problems months after the renovation was declared substantially complete.
With North Asheville Little League’s spring season approaching, Councilman Bo Hess said the city needs to move quickly.
“I don’t want it to drag on for months and months and months,” Hess said.
What’s being fixed at Weaver Park?
Mayor Esther Manheimer said the city has a list of improvements planned for Weaver Park, including repairs to the baseball field that are supposed to be completed by the end of December.
Other work includes replacing playground mulch that contains rocks, reopening the park bathrooms and adding a component to the existing playground structure.
Manheimer said the mulch replacement and bathroom work should happen soon, although no specific dates were given.
The city has already reported progress on drainage repairs and sod installation at the park. But questions remain about whether the field will be ready for Little League play in the spring.
The playground could be a bigger challenge.
During the briefing, Hess asked about installing additional play equipment, saying the neighborhood deserves more than what was provided in the original renovation.
City staff said the park’s location in a floodplain limits what can be built there. Purchasing requirements and the time needed to obtain commercial-grade playground equipment could also delay larger improvements.
One official said that even if the city decides to make additional changes, getting new equipment installed would likely take longer than spring 2027.
City Attorney Brad Branham explained that North Carolina law requires municipalities to follow specific purchasing and contracting procedures. The city cannot simply buy equipment or hire a contractor without going through those steps.
Branham also acknowledged that Asheville has some purchasing rules that are more restrictive than state requirements.
Hess asked whether donated equipment or help from community groups might speed things up. Branham said donations are possible, although equipment must meet applicable safety standards and other legal requirements.
Frustration over the original renovation
The discussion follows months of complaints from North Asheville Little League families and neighborhood residents.
In July, 828newsNOW reported concerns about flooding, uneven playing surfaces, dugout placement, the scoreboard and a replacement playground that residents said was smaller and less accessible than the one it replaced.
Families also questioned whether the city had listened to Little League representatives and neighborhood residents during the planning process.
At the time, the city disputed claims that Little League had been left out, saying the organization had been involved throughout the project and its needs had helped shape the design.
City officials also said they would develop a plan to address the problems residents identified.
Since then, the city has reported making drainage repairs and working on other improvements. But the concerns haven’t gone away.
During the Oct. 22 briefing, Hess said the city missed an opportunity to get the project right from the beginning.
“I’m just frustrated because we had an opportunity to get this right the first time around,” he said.
Council members also discussed continuing complaints about the playground, including the placement of benches and whether the existing structure meets families’ needs.
Hess said the city needs to restore residents’ confidence that their concerns are being heard.
“We have to get Weaver Park right,” he said. “This is a priority.”
Questions about accessibility and public input
Councilwoman Kim Roney raised concerns about accessibility, pointing to a playground ramp that she said leads into an area where mud and water have collected.
She questioned why the city would install new playground equipment without making sure everyone could use it.
Roney said the problem raises a larger question about how Asheville approaches accessibility when building or renovating public facilities.
Other council members suggested the city may need to rethink how it plans park projects.
Councilwoman Sage Turner said the city should review its policies for designing projects, seeking bids and involving residents before construction begins.
She said she wants Weaver Park fixed, but also wants to make sure other projects aren’t headed down the same path.
Councilwoman Maggie Ullman raised concerns about what troubled projects could mean for public confidence, particularly as Asheville prepares for future bond-funded improvements.
She suggested the city explore stronger partnerships with neighborhood organizations and volunteer groups that could help raise money or provide expertise.
Council members discussed the possibility of a more formal Friends of the Parks program, similar to partnerships already supporting other city facilities.
No decisions were made during the briefing, which was held for discussion rather than formal action.
Another park project takes a different approach
The discussion about community involvement carried into a later presentation on replacing the Malvern Hills Park swimming pool.
City staff outlined the public engagement process for that project, which included online surveys, design open houses, opportunities to comment on proposed plans and meetings with community members.
Officials said residents’ feedback helped shape the pool design, including requests for a larger deep end and a sloped entry into the water.
The pool, which closed in 2023, is being replaced with a modern facility designed to meet current safety and accessibility requirements. The city expects it to reopen for the summer 2028 swimming season.
Staff said the city plans to provide neighborhood updates every two months during construction.
The presentation highlighted how the city is approaching another major parks project as council members consider whether residents need to be more involved in planning and design.
Will Weaver Park be ready for spring?
For North Asheville Little League families, the immediate question is whether the baseball field will be ready when the next season begins.
The city has set a December target for field repairs, but officials did not confirm during the briefing that the field would be ready for play by spring.
There is also no firm completion date for all the playground improvements residents have requested.
City staff said they could provide council members with an updated schedule for the remaining work.
The briefing did not establish how much the corrective work has cost or whether additional improvements will require more taxpayer money.
Hess urged the city to make as much progress as possible during the fall and winter, rather than allowing the problems to stretch into another baseball season.