Buncombe County Context the Communities Throughout Buncombe County Are Tain Vistas, Hike Numerous Trails, and Wheel Down As Diverse As Its Landscape
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Draft Plan for Public Review—August 2012 Chapter 2: Buncombe County Context The communities throughout Buncombe County are tain vistas, hike numerous trails, and wheel down as diverse as its landscape. Some sectors of the single track mountain bike trails that rank among County remain in a rural and natural state, with farm- the best in the United States. The area is also a lands and pasture abutting steep mountain grades. hub for artists and culinary endeavors. This com- Other areas have experienced rapid growth and, bined with the cultural influence of like-minded while not within city or town limits, have urban cen- residents who reside in Buncombe County and con- ters, neighborhoods and other commercial areas. The tribute to our active lifestyles, complement a cities and towns of Buncombe County—Asheville, Bilt- strong tourism-based economy and create a con- more Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville, text within Buncombe County that should help nat- and Woodfin—each have qualities that contribute to urally promote a stronger greenway culture. the overall feel of the County and the region. This chapter reflects the factors that contribute to Factors such as terrain, historic landmarks and prox- the uniqueness of communities across Buncombe imity to rivers and streams make each community County. It also profiles the feedback gathered dur- unique while adding to the challenges of realizing a ing the public meetings and stakeholder work- regionwide, inter-connected greenway system. The shops in 2011 and 2012. challenges faced in planning for and constructing There is an expectation among area stakeholders greenways and trails systems in Western North Caro- that Buncombe County, its municipal partners, non lina can be traced back to ancient eras when the -profits, land conservancies and other government Sunset over Lake Julian near the Arden community in network of streams and rivers carved valleys through- agencies will act as a unified voice to create a re- south Buncombe County. The Lake Julian Greenway out the southern Appalachian Mountains. Travel by gional greenways system. Corridor is one of the planned Priority Corridors identi- any mode—whether for transportation or recreation-- fied in this Plan. in Western North Carolina has always been difficult, Community Influences & Destinations Photo Credit: Buncombe County as the far-traveling landscape architect Frederick Law The following pages contain brief profiles of Bun- Olmsted noted in the late 1800s that the stage roads combe County communities, cities and towns. in Western North Carolina were “as bad as anything, These profiles were developed through stakeholder under the name of road, can be conceived to be.” workshops, seven public meetings held throughout the County, and an online survey that asked re- The mountains and waterways of this region will con- spondents to name destinations in their communi- tinue to provide the likely course for greenway corri- ty and across Buncombe County that they would dors to connect cities, schools, downtown areas and like to access via a greenway. natural features. The routes to connect our communi- ties will become popular destinations in and of them- Influences are major features of a community that selves and provide opportunities for a fully integrated can impact how and where a greenway is con- system of primary greenway facilities. structed (e.g. a river or major highway). Destina- tions are places people may travel to or start from Today recreationalists flock to Western North Caroli- to use a greenway. Some influences may also be na to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, experience moun- destinations or have destinations near them. Buncombe County Greenways & Trails Master Plan 2 - 1 Draft Plan for Public Review—August 2012 Community Influences & Destinations Alexander Arden Influences & Destinations Influences & Destinations French Broad River Lake Julian & Park Alexander Park & Greenway Trail YMCA Reuter Center & Biltmore Park Marshall & Madison County Former Brookwood Golf Course NC 251 / Riverside Drive bicycle route Bent Creek Trails & Blue Ridge Parkway Ledges Park Jake Rusher Park Mountain bike trails Royal Pines Park Walnut Island French Broad River Fletcher Park Airport area shopping centers Biltmore Lake in the Enka community. Roberson area schools Barnardsville & Big Ivy Enka - Candler Influences & Destinations Influences & Destinations Rural development, farms and pastureland Buncombe County Sports Park Big Ivy Community Center Sand Hill - Venable Elementary School Barnardsville township center Pisgah School & Candler Elementary Barnardsville Elementary School Enka High School & Middle School Ivy River AB Tech, Enka Campus Coleman Boundary Hominy Creek Hiking trails near Blue Ridge Parkway Beaverdam Community Center Navitat Walking trail and playground at the Biltmore Lake Big Ivy Community Center near Bent Creek trails Barnardsville. 2 - 2 Buncombe County Greenways & Trails Master Plan Draft Plan for Public Review—August 2012 Community Influences & Destinations Fairview Erwin, Leicester, Sandy Mush Influences & Destinations Influences & Destinations Rural development, farms and pastureland Rural development, farms and Blue Ridge Parkway pastureland Fairview Elementary School Erwin Schools Complex Cane Creek Middle School Leicester School Fairview Public Library Leicester Library Reynolds High School & Middle School French Broad River Cane Creek Sandy Mush Game Lands US Highway 74A & NC Highway 9 Hickory Nut Gap Greenway connecting Carrier Park and Hominy Creek in West Asheville. Swannanoa Asheville Influences & Destinations Influences & Destinations Swannanoa River Downtown & River Arts District Warren Wilson College French Broad & Swannanoa Rivers Owen Schools Carrier Park & West Asheville Village center Biltmore Village & Biltmore Estate Grovemont community & library UNC Asheville & Beaver Lake Bee Tree Lake AB Tech Main Campus Owen Park & Pool Existing Greenways & Wilma Dykeman Facilities at Owen Park in the US Highway 70 RiverWay & Blue Ridge Parkway Swannanoa community. Blue Ridge Parkway Haw Creek, Nature Center & Azalea Park Azalea Park & Nature Center City Neighborhoods Buncombe County Greenways & Trails Master Plan 2 - 3 Draft Plan for Public Review—August 2012 Community Influences & Destinations Biltmore Forest Black Mountain Montreat Influences & Destinations Influences & Destinations Influences & Destinations Large estate lots Downtown & Lake Tomahawk Montreat College Blue Ridge Parkway Greenways, parks & garden Hiking trails Biltmore Estate Montreat College & The Oaks Mt. Mitchell Mountains-to-Sea Trail Swannanoa River Downtown Black Mountain Carolina Day School Elementary & Primary School Point Lookout Trail Ridgecrest Ridgecrest Point Lookout Trail Black Mountain Retreats & camps Catawba Falls & Headwaters NC Highway 9 & US 70 Weaverville Woodfin Influences & Destinations Influences & Destinations Downtown Weaverville YMCA Woodfin Nature Park Woodfin Elementary School Lake Louise & Reems Creek Riverside Park Vance Birthplace French Broad River Blue Ridge Parkway Weaverville & North Asheville North Buncombe schools Woodfin Community Center Woodfin & North Asheville Reynolds Village Point Lookout Trail to Old Fort. Windy Gap French Broad River Greenway at Woodfin‘s Riverside Park. 2 - 4 Buncombe County Greenways & Trails Master Plan Draft Plan for Public Review—August 2012 Community & Stakeholder Outreach Exhibit 2-1: Geographic A five-pronged approach to gathering input from across Buncombe County was employed to reach as distribution of survey many communities and diverse populations as possi- respondents Montreat ble. While new technology such as online surveys and social networking allow citizens to provide commen- tary on specific aspects of the Greenways and Trails Master Plan, Buncombe County felt it imperative that citizens and stakeholders be engaged one-on-one through a variety of methods. The five-pronged ap- proach included: 11 Public Meetings, which drew more than 300 citizens, were held in October 2011 and May 2012 at: Arden (x2); Asheville (x2); Barnardsville; Black Mountain; Enka; Fairview; Exhibit 2-2: To what places Leicester; and do you think greenway Weaverville (x2). connectivity should be Two-Day Stakeholders Workshop, which drew a priority? 138 invitees from several interest groups across the region, and included sessions for: Elected officials & town managers; Economic development; Health & wellness; Maintenance & policy; Recreation & programs; Sustainability & environment; and Transportation & connectivity. Information Booths at 12 public festivals throughout the summer and fall of 2011; Buncombe County Greenways & Trails Master Plan 2 - 5 Draft Plan for Public Review—August 2012 Online Survey, which was completed by more Exhibit 2-3: What activities than 500 respondents and disseminated through influence your use of information booths and public forums, Facebook, greenways? websites for communities and organizations, and through announcements. Greenways, Please: A marketing campaign con- sisting of newspaper columns, public service an- nouncements, a promotional video, social media and photo campaign with 700 images submitted by citizens that drew attention to Connect Bun- combe and the Plan throughout the process. Survey Results The survey conducted as part of the Greenways and Trails Master Plan was intended to gather specific information