Azalea Parks Recovery Design

At a glance

What: Concept design to restore and make more resilient Recreation Park, Azalea Park, Azalea Road East and sections of the Swannanoa River, damaged by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024, including removal of the Lake Craig Dam structure and rebuilding of the Gashes Creek Bridge.
Where it stands: Design consultants OLIN (engaged October 2025) presented concept alternatives to Council on August 25, 2026. No vote.
Next: Public engagement in fall 2026; 45 percent design submission in October 2026; 60 percent in January 2027.

Parks and Recreation Director McGirt introduced Michael Miller, partner at The Olin Studio. Priorities: repositioning and restoring damaged facilities, increasing connectivity, nature and ecology as the site's backbone, and resiliency.
Funding streams named: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, FEMA Public Assistance, state funding through the Office of State Budget and Management, and CDBG-DR; also a PARTF grant.
Concept drawings covered Recreation Park, the JBL Soccer Complex, Riverbend and Azalea Pond.
Lake Craig Dam: built in 1924 as a hydroelectric dam and bridge; hydropower ended in 1952 and it became a pass-through weir carrying the bridge. Mr. Miller said it never served flood control and modeling shows removal will not affect Biltmore Village or any downstream structure; benefits cited are river ecology, paddler safety and access, reduced flooding for some upstream owners and lower maintenance and liability.
Council questions: benefits of wetlands and riparian buffers; confirmation that boat and tube access is considered; the design has no indoor pool, though it could adapt if funds appear, with parking demands.

On September 8, Ordinance 5259 added $4.2 million for Helene recovery, including a temporary bridge at Gashes Creek; see Helene Recovery Budget Amendment.

Manager's report: Azalea Parks and Infrastructure Project presentation. No action.

2026-11-10 - City Council (formal meeting) - Consent item E: $30,375,000 transfer from the CDBG Fund to the General Capital Projects Fund for Azalea and French Broad River Park recovery (agenda only).