This news item expired on Thursday, August 31, 2023 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Join the Buncombe County Open Space Bond team and Parks & Recreation department for an informational event at Richmond Hill Park on Thursday, Aug. 10th, from 4-7 p.m. Anyone interested in attending can experience passive recreation opportunities firsthand and engage with the Open Space Bond team. Share your thoughts on the future of Open Space in Buncombe County and gain deeper insights into passive recreation.
In November 2022, Buncombe County voters approved a general obligation bond to allocate $30 million towards Open Space projects, including greenways, conservation easements, and passive recreation lands.
The Open Space Bond team is currently seeking valuable input from the community, aiming to understand the collective vision for the future of passive recreation lands in Buncombe County. These conversations will help shape the County’s process for evaluating and selecting projects to receive bond funding.
Passive recreation lands promote healthy lifestyles and social outlets for residents, while also boasting long-term cost-effectiveness due to their minimal upkeep requirements. In addition, passive recreation areas play a vital role in minimizing impacts on the natural environment when compared to traditional park developments.
"The people of Buncombe County have shown that they want to see more opportunities that combine conservation and recreation, so we want to know what passive recreation means to you," explains Jill Carter, the Open Space Bond Project Manager. "This event gives us a great chance to talk with the community and hear what kinds of projects they’d like to see become a reality and how they think these bond funds can best be put to work."
For more information and to participate in the Passive Recreation survey, click here.