Charles D. Owen Park experienced the worst storm damage of any Buncombe County park. The Swannanoa River – which previously bordered the park – breached its banks, flooded and destroyed the fishing ponds, and cut a new path through the park. There was extensive damage to the park’s infrastructure, like fields, buildings, and equipment, as well as a potential impact to the stability of the land and changes to its topography. So reopening Owen Park to the public will require a large-scale project. 

Buncombe County Parks & Recreation will complete the project in two phases. The first phase will include public input opportunities to help identify the community's vision for the park; engineering studies to develop plans for grading, drainage, stormwater management, and structural integrity of park amenities; and incorporation of accessibility standards and sustainability and resilience measures. After these steps, we will share conceptual and schematic designs for Owen Park. Phase two will include production of detailed construction documents and plans, permits, a public bid process to select a contractor, and construction of a new Owen Park. Visit the Project Timeline tab for a detailed breakdown of each phase.