Alexander River Park, Ledges Whitewater Park, and Walnut Island River Park all sit along the French Broad River in the northern part of Buncombe County. Tropical Storm Helene caused damage to trees, vegetation, and riverbanks and, in the case of Alexander, significant land loss. Through a partnership with NPS-RTCA, we hope to rebuild these green spaces to support passive recreation opportunities, like walking, fishing, bird watching, and recreational river access. Because of the parks' position within the floodway of the river, Parks & Recreation and RTCA staff will work on designs, proposed uses, and plans for future improvements that reflect the environmental limitations of the sites.

NPS-RTCA is a technical assistance program that provides planning, design, and technical experiences to communities throughout the country. The program does not provide direct funding, but the staff will work with Parks & Recreation throughout the planning and design stage and will help identify funding sources at the end of those phases.

A workshop in November 2026 will help guide the design of the parks, and RTCA will share final concept plans in spring 2027. Once plans are complete, we will seek funding for engineering and construction.