Press release from Asheville, Parks & Recreation:
Out-of-towners like to speculate when fall foliage will peak in Asheville to plan a visit. For locals, the beauty of living in the Blue Ridge Mountains means the chance to enjoy a regional show of bright yellow, burnt orange, and vibrant purple hues that can last six to eight weeks. That span is shorter in Asheville proper, but autumn is still a spectacular time of year to explore the city’s parks.
Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) encourages community members to visit public parks and share selfies during the season with the Fall for APR challenge. The promotion highlights 15 of the more than 65 public spaces and facilities in APR’s portfolio. Ashevillians who visit at least eight of the locations between October 1-November 30 will receive a reusable canvas tote bag, an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic bags.
“As temperatures cool, more of our attention turns to inside activities at community centers such as game nights, line dancing, art classes, and indoor sports, but fall provides a great opportunity to relish Asheville’s outdoor public spaces,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “Our asset management and maintenance team goes above and beyond all year to keep parks, playgrounds, courts, and fields safe and beautiful for the community to enjoy. While our ultimate vision is to see everyone in Asheville have safe access to a quality park within a few minutes’ walk or ride, this selfie challenge may help some residents explore, connect, and discover new spaces. We’re intentionally highlighting locations with unique features and easy accessibility.”
Fall for Asheville Parks & Recreation Rules
- Register on APR’s website by November 15, 2022 using this link. This helps us know how many tote bags to order.
- Visit at least eight of the locations listed below between October 1-November 30, 2022.
- Post a selfie of your visit on Instagram and/or Facebook, use #Fall4APR, and tag us. APR is @ashevilleparksandrecreation on Instagram and @APRCA on Facebook.
- Not into selfies? Just bring along a stuffed animal or other unique object to include in your pictures instead of yourself. If you’re not on social media, simply snap your shots and show them to us.
- Stop by Stephens-Lee Community Center (30 George Washington Carver Ave.) between November 28-December 15 to show your pics and get your tote bag. If you can’t make it to Stephens-Lee during this time, email parks@ashevillenc.gov to arrange to pick up on a later date or at another community center.
- Have fun as you explore, connect, and discover public spaces around your city!
Scavenger Hunt Locations
A gallery to reference each location can be found on APR’s website and its social media feeds. Visit at least eight to receive your tote bag.
Central
— Memorial sculpture in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park (50 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.)
–Murals in Triangle Park (56 S. Market St.)
–Any station on the Urban Trail (trail begins in Pack Square Plaza in front of Asheville Art Museum with 30 stations throughout downtown)East
–Dog park in Azalea Park (395 Azalea Rd.)
–Sports courts in Murphy-Oakley Park (715 Fairview Rd.)
–Basketball court in Kenilworth Park (79 Wyoming Rd.)North
–Ping pong plaza in Tempie Avery Montford Community Center’s recreation complex (34 Pearson Dr.)
–Entrance gate to Riverside Cemetery (53 Birch St.)
–Bridge on Glenn’s Creek Greenway in Weaver Park (parking lots are located on 200 Murdock Ave. and 430 Merrimon Ave.)South
–Friendship arch in Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center’s recreation complex (121 Shiloh Rd.)
–Picnic shelter in Jake Rusher Park (160 Sycamore Dr.)
–Ballfields in Ray L. Kisiah Park (70 W. Chapel Rd.)West
–Hole #1 on Richmond Hill Park’s disc golf course (300 Richmond Hill Dr.)
–Anywhere on French Broad River Greenway (trailheads with parking lots are located on 220 Hominy Creek Rd. and 8 Emma Rd. with additional parking along the greenway in Amboy –Riverfront Park, Carrier Park, French Broad River Park, and Buncombe County’s Hominy Creek River Park)
Communication board in Carrier Park’s playground (220 Amboy Rd.)
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