Asheville Dreams of Its Own Central Park

Can you envision Asheville with its own Central Park — a place free from a $299 annual fee, where everyone can gather for picnics, stroll with their labradoodles or gather wildflowers without resorting to taking them from Interstate 26 exit ramps?

Picture our community-minded neighbors participating in AcroYoga or the latest Tie-Dye 101 class, observing our plant whisperers and seed library evangelists enjoying expansive community gardens. Perhaps even catching a glimpse of our congressman sunbathing.

Opportunity for Transformation

Now, where could we find a sufficiently large area, low on investment, close to downtown and boasting significant conservation value? How about the Asheville Racquet Club’s golf course?

Consider the advantages: a nine-hole course — the perfect size for evening strolls, just six minutes from Pack Square, and towering trees providing a natural spectacle wherever you look. The New York Times’ “After Shutting Down, These Golf Courses Went Wild” article elaborates on the transformation of a few closed golf courses nationwide, purchased by land trusts, municipalities, and nonprofits to become nature preserves, parks, and wetlands.

The ongoing I-26 expansion offers a unique opportunity for our city to obtain something we all deserve — additional space for pickleball.

– Jorge A. Pradilla

Asheville