ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County officials are asking residents to help shape the future of a storm-damaged Swannanoa park during a community workshop Monday evening.
Buncombe County Parks & Recreation will host a “Reimagining Owen Park” meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. March 30 in the Owen Middle School gym. The event, co-sponsored by the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance, is the first in a series of opportunities for public input on the future of Charles D. Owen Park.
The park has remained closed since it was heavily damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, which caused the Swannanoa River to overflow its banks, destroying fishing ponds, damaging infrastructure and altering the landscape.
Officials say the workshop will give residents a chance to share their experiences with the park, identify recreational needs and offer ideas for its redevelopment. The session will include a brief presentation by Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architecture, the project’s design team, followed by interactive activities. Attendees may drop in at any time during the two-hour event, and Spanish-language interpretation will be available.
According to Parks & Recreation, the Owen Park project will be completed in two phases. The first phase, already underway, includes land surveys, site assessments and early planning for stormwater management and riverbank restoration. Community feedback gathered during this stage will help guide the park’s redesign.
In the second phase, officials will develop detailed construction plans, obtain permits and select a contractor before rebuilding the park.
Additional opportunities for public input, including an online survey, are expected to be announced on the project’s webpage for those unable to attend in person.
