Press release from City of Asheville:
A solution to a frequent challenge for Asheville’s festival and event organizers – and the municipal parks management team – is on the horizon in Pack Square Park’s Roger McGuire Green. The “cool season” grass currently in that part of the park will be replaced with “warm season” hybrid bermudagrass that thrives in spring, summer, and fall when the majority of Pack Square Park’s events take place. To prepare the soil, install sod, and allow time to establish roots, the lawns between South Market Street and Court Plaza will close while Splasheville, Bascom Lamar Lunsford Stage, J. Rush Oates Plaza, and the pavilion with restrooms remain open.
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) manages 680 acres of parkland and community spaces throughout the city. The 6.5-acre Pack Square Park in downtown often serves as a de facto town square and sees larger crowds for outdoor special events than other parks. Locals and visitors can expect less time between events for the lawn to repair itself.
“Parks and outdoor spaces see much more use during warmer months as people want to enjoy the natural beauty of our city or attend the many outdoor special events Asheville is known for,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “This opportunity for our team to work smarter means more access to Pack Square Park for the community and more time we can spend maintaining and improving parks in other parts of the city to keep them safe, clean and welcoming. This project is a testament to the innovative spirit of APR’s Asset Management division which oversees maintenance and repairs, painting, mowing, landscaping, and trades work such as plumbing, electrical, and mechanical tasks. The new grass is designed to thrive in summer and actively restore itself with less water and support than the current lawn.”
In the week leading up to the green’s closure, APR team members may be seen prepping the area to ensure the project starts and stays on schedule. Starting June 17, access to Roger McGuire Green and Reuter Terrace will be restricted by a temporary fence erected around its perimeter.
Movies in the Park’s showing of Barbie on June 14 and Splasheville Days on June 15-16 are scheduled so the community may enjoy all areas of the park right up to the partial closure. Bookending the project, Splasheville Days return on July 6-7 and Movies in the Park returns July 12 with a special tenth anniversary showing of Guardians of the Galaxy.
The City of Asheville’s Office of Special Events within the Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities department permits events in parks, streets, and other outdoor public spaces. To search APR’s parks, greenways, playgrounds, and unique spaces throughout the city, visit this page to filter by location type and features.
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