Press release from City of Asheville
Ashevillians looking to beat the heat are in luck! Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) plans to bring free family-friendly foam parties, inflatable water slides, and other water activities to public parks to welcome summer’s arrival.
“Asheville Parks & Recreation knows summer fun can get expensive,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “We host hundreds of free and low-cost – and high-fun! – family events and activities all year. Malvern Hills Park’s pool and Splasheville in Pack Square Park are open, and a new pool currently under construction opens at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center later this year, but Recreation Park’s pool is under repair. We want to host Splash into Summer in parks closest to Recreation Park in order to provide alternative water-based fun for families in that area until the pool opens.”
Splash into Summer
Additional events may be announced as they are confirmed.
June 11, 1-3 p.m. – Foam Party with Professor Whizzpop in Kenilworth Park
June 12, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Inflatable Water Slide at Recreation Park
June 20, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Inflatable Water Slide at Recreation Park
June 27, 12-3 p.m. – Inflatable Water Slide at Murphy-Oakley Park
June 30, 1-3 p.m. – Foam Party with Professor Whizzpop at Recreation Park
July 1, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Toddler Water Day at Tempie Avery Montford Community Center
July 7, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Inflatable Water Slide at Jake Rusher Park
July 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Inflatable Water Slide at Murphy-Oakley ParkRelated Facilities
Splasheville in Pack Square Park is open daily from 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. except during some special events and festivals.
Malvern Hills Park’s pool is open daily beginning June 10. Admission is $3 per person. Hours can be found on ashevillecitypools.com.Craven Street Bridge Boating Access Area, Pearson Bridge Public Boat Launch (704 Riverside Drive), and Amboy Riverfront, Carrier, and Jean Webb parks offer river access for tubing and boating.
For community members looking to cool off without getting wet, all Asheville Parks & Recreation community centers feature air conditioning and WiFi access. Free community offerings include exercise classes, hobby clubs, card and board games, dances, cooking and healthy living classes, affinity groups, arts and crafts, music jams and drum circles, trivia, salsa and line dancing, indoor basketball, programs for teens and young adults, special events, and much more that can be found in the current program guide (available in English and Spanish).
Extreme temperatures – especially extreme heat – can be very dangerous. To remain safe, community members are reminded to drink plenty of hydrating fluids (avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and sugary beverages), wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, stay out of the sun as much as possible, and practice smart sun safety measures.
Asheville Parks & Recreation
With its oldest parks dating to the 1890s, Asheville Parks & Recreation manages a unique collection of more than 65 public parks, playgrounds, and open spaces throughout the city in a system that also includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, Riverside Cemetery, sports fields and courts, and community centers that offer a variety of wellness-, education-, and culture-related programs for Ashevillians of all ages. With 10 miles of paved greenways and numerous natural surface trails, its complete portfolio acts as the foundation of a vibrant hub for the people of Asheville to connect with their neighbors and explore the natural beauty of a livable and walkable city.
Driven by the promise that Asheville is a better and safer place when everyone from infants to retirees has the opportunity to be supported, healthy, and successful, Asheville Parks & Recreation was the first nationally-accredited municipal recreation department in the United States. For latest updates, sign up for Asheville Parks & Recreation’s monthly newsletter, follow the department on Facebook @aprca and Instagram @ashevilleparksandrecreation, or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/parks.
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