ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — In the coming days, Asheville residents will be able to take a look at the design concept for the French Broad Riverfront Parks Project near the river itself. The design will be displayed on riverfront banners, at community centers and online.
The reveal follows six months of study, conversation and collaboration between area locals and Asheville officials, “synthesizing thousands of resident voices into a single, cohesive vision,” the city said in a press release.
The French Broad Riverfront Parks Project is an Asheville Parks & Recreation initiative started after the devastating flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024. The project took shape in late 2025, when residents shared their feedback about what the renewed parks should look like, and took another step forward in February 2026, when three distinct designs were revealed. The new, unified design will be the definitive vision of the project moving forward.
Where to find the French Broad Riverfront Parks Project design
The most immersive way to explore the new design will be through several informational banners slated for installation along French Broad River greenways and riverfront parks in the Asheville area.
These banners “are in the process of going up now,” but “not all locals will have them installed at the same time,” said Kim Miller, city communications specialist.
All eight Asheville Parks & Rec community centers will also house print-outs of the design, which will be available as soon as end-of-day tomorrow, Miller said.
There are several digital ways to access the design, including recorded presentations on the City of Asheville YouTube page and links on the project website.
What comes next for the French Broad Riverfront Parks Project?
The design phase of the parks project will continue into early 2027, with an anticipated construction timeline spanning 2027-2030, according to the project page.
Asheville officials will host public engagement opportunities for fine-tuning elements of the new design this September.
Members of the public are a central tenet of the French Broad Riverfront Parks Project, from input on the design to access during its implementation, which will be “maximized throughout the duration of the project, allowing as many amenities as possible to be open for public use,” the city wrote in the release.
