Letter: Dreaming of Asheville’s Central Park

Posted on by Letters
Graphic by Lori Deaton

Can you envision Asheville with its own Central Park — a place free from a $299 annual fee, where everyone can gather for picnics, stroll with their labradoodles or gather wildflowers without resorting to taking them from Interstate 26 exit ramps? Picture our community-minded neighbors participating in AcroYoga or the latest Tie-Dye 101 class, observing our plant whisperers and seed library evangelists enjoying expansive community gardens. Perhaps even catching a glimpse of our congressman sunbathing.

Now, where could we find a sufficiently large area, low on investment, close to downtown and boasting significant conservation value? How about the Asheville Racquet Club’s golf course? Consider the advantages: a nine-hole course — the perfect size for evening strolls, just six minutes from Pack Square, and towering trees providing a natural spectacle wherever you look.

The New York Times’ “After Shutting Down, These Golf Courses Went Wild” article  elaborates on the transformation of a few closed golf courses nationwide, purchased by land trusts, municipalities and nonprofits to become nature preserves, parks and wetlands.

The ongoing I-26 expansion offers a unique opportunity for our city to obtain something we all deserve — additional space for pickleball.

— Jorge A. Pradilla
Asheville

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3 thoughts on “Letter: Dreaming of Asheville’s Central Park”

  1. Zodwa

    You are a little late on your idea. The ARC golf course it the new route of I26 and will gone soon. The club is being rebuilt and will include pickleball courts, plus a 55 plus housing community. No more golf course, but plenty of tennis and pickleball. Construction is scheduled to start in the Fall. But you can still pick the wildflowers on the interstate medium when you feel up to it.

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  2. Nostupid peoples

    Yeah let’s foolishly creat another idiotic senseless project! we have enough natural parts, Trails landscape to enjoy why create a cluster screwup to maintain to patrol for the drug dealers and homeless . Who comes up with these idiotic ideals! Take Asheville as it is . Visit enjoy and go the hell away. Asheville wants to be left the hell alone!

    • gapple

      Apparently Asheville needs more pickle ball courts for all the retirees moving in from other blue regions.

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