Asheville has about 9 miles of city greenway. Some riverfront parks are still closed after Helene; temporary dog parks are open. Parks: 828-259-5800.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from Asheville Parks and Recreation, the city’s park finder and its greenways page. Parks and Recreation: 828-259-5800.

Asheville Parks and Recreation runs the city’s parks, community centers and pools, and the Transportation Department manages about 9 miles of greenway. Two years after Tropical Storm Helene, parts of the French Broad riverfront are still closed, so check the status below before you go.

Who to call

  • Asheville Parks and Recreation: 828-259-5800, parks@ashevillenc.gov
  • Picnic shelter reservations: 828-259-5800 or online
  • City pool: 828-348-4770, ashevillecitypools.com
  • Find a park near you: Park Finder

Riverfront parks after Helene

Helene caused at least $25 million in damage to more than 200 acres of parks, greenways and recreation facilities along the French Broad River, the city said in April 2025. It expected about two years of design and public input, then two to three years of construction, opening as much as possible along the way. Current status, from each park’s city page:

Park or trail Status
Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Road Partly open. East side (picnic shelter, wetlands area, lawn, parking) open; west side (playground, skating rink, courts, sports field) closed
French Broad River Park, 508 Riverview Drive Closed
French Broad River Greenway Mostly open, from Hominy Creek River Park to Amboy Riverfront Park and from Craven Street north; the section through French Broad River Park is closed
Wilma Dykeman Greenway Open; the 8 River Arts Place parking lot is closed
Richmond Hill Park, 300 Richmond Hill Drive Partly open. Disc golf fully open; some hiking trails open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Updates on the rebuild are on the French Broad Riverfront Parks Recovery page.

Greenways

The city maintains six greenways, according to its greenways page:

Greenway Length Route
French Broad Greenway 3.9 miles Hominy Creek Park through Carrier Park to Craven Street, west bank of the river
Wilma Dykeman Greenway 2.2 miles Hill Street to Amboy Road through the River Arts District, with a two-way cycle track
Reed Creek Greenway 0.9 mile The Botanical Gardens on W.T. Weaver Boulevard toward downtown along Broadway
Glenn’s Creek Greenway 0.75 mile Weaver Park on Merrimon Avenue to Broadway, through UNC Asheville
Hominy Creek Greenway 0.7 mile Natural surface trail from 26 Shelburne Road to Sand Hill Road
Swannanoa Greenway 0.5 mile Inside Riverbend Park in East Asheville

Parking for the French Broad River Greenway is at Hominy Creek River Park (220 Hominy Creek Road), Carrier Park (220 Amboy Road), Amboy Riverfront Park (180 Amboy Road), on-street at Craven Street and at Craven Street Trailhead Park (7 Emma Road).

The city asks greenway users to pass slowly on the left and call out first, travel no more than two wide, step off the path to stop and keep dogs on a 3-foot leash. The River Arts District cycle track is for faster traffic such as bikes.

A 1-mile Swannanoa Greenway extension from Thompson Street to Bleachery Road started construction in 2024 but is paused because of Helene damage to the site, the city says.

Dog parks

Floodwaters destroyed the city’s permanent dog parks. Two temporary fenced dog parks are open while they are rebuilt, a process the city says may take several years:

  • Riverbend Park, 100 Bleachery Blvd., off Swannanoa River Road: open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with separate areas for large and small dogs, the city said when it opened.
  • Aston Park, 300 Hilliard Ave., on the South Slope.

Splash pad and pool

  • Splasheville, at Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, is the city’s only public splash pad. It opens in early May and runs 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily in season, closing for events and bad weather, according to the pool and Splasheville page.
  • The city’s outdoor pool is at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St.; admission is $3. The Recreation Park pool was badly damaged by Helene.

Neighborhood parks

  • Weaver Park, 200 Murdock Ave.: ballfield, lighted courts for pickleball and tennis, playground, picnic shelter and a link to Glenn’s Creek Greenway.
  • Montford Park, 345 Montford Ave.
  • West Asheville Park, 198 Vermont Ave.
  • Jean Webb Park, 86 Riverside Drive, on the Wilma Dykeman Greenway.

Events of more than 50 people, tents or inflatables may need a city special event permit.

What this means for you

  • Check a riverfront park’s status before you go; some areas are fenced off.
  • Dogs: use the temporary parks at Riverbend or Aston Park.
  • Reserve shelters early by calling 828-259-5800.

More: farmers markets and getting around Asheville.

Frequently asked questions

Is Carrier Park open in Asheville?

Partly. The east side of Carrier Park, with the picnic shelter, wetlands area, lawn and parking lot, is open, and the French Broad River Greenway is open through the park. The west side, including the playground and sports areas, is closed after Helene.

Where is the dog park in Asheville?

The city runs temporary fenced dog parks at Riverbend Park, 100 Bleachery Blvd., open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and at Aston Park, 300 Hilliard Ave., while flood-damaged dog parks are rebuilt.

How many miles of greenway does Asheville have?

The City of Asheville maintains six greenways totaling about 9 miles. The longest is the 3.9-mile French Broad Greenway.

Is Richmond Hill Park open?

Richmond Hill Park has partly reopened. The disc golf course is fully open and some hiking trails are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but the city warns that hazards remain after the storm.