The Friends of Beaucatcher Overlook Park have announced a public meeting on June 28 from 5-7 p.m. at Stephens-Lee Recreation Center at 30 George Washington Carver Ave. off Charlotte Steet in Asheville.
Bob Roepnack, a member of the Friends of Beaucatcher Overlook Park and its parent organization Asheville Greenworks, says the meeting will be an opportunity for members of the public to see three conceptual design approaches for the proposed park on the site of the former White Fawn Reservoir. Asheville residents may be familiar with the park’s location as seen from a distance: Two communication towers visible from downtown Asheville stand on the city-owned site on Beaucatcher Mountain above the St. Joseph campus of Mission Health.
The public is encouraged to attend to develop a better understanding of the differences between the design alternatives and to give input on which alternatives they prefer.
The most challenging aspect of developing the design alternatives, Roepnack said, was the steepness of the property from the Beaucatcher Greenway to the mountaintop park. Although the design alternatives are not fully accessible according to standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the conceptual plans do offer a “reasonable grade” from the greenway to the proposed park.
Roepnack wrote in an email:
Many mountain communities have overlook parks and public walks that allow access for, viewing and contemplation of the mountain ridges that surround their city, away from congested parking lots and busy roadways.
Asheville is situated in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, with soaring mountain ridges rising above the city to the south, east, north and west. A master plan for the White Fawn Overlook Park with panoramic views is being prepared for review and public comment.
With the WFOP situated on the southern end of Beaucatcher Overlook Park and construction of the Beaucatcher Greenway, access to some wonderful public overlooks for viewing will be available at the overlook park and along the route of the greenway. Parking for access is already in place at Memorial Stadium serving both parks.
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