Swannanoa River Greenway Project Update

Update on the Swannanoa River Greenway Project

Construction on the first extension segment of the Swannanoa River Greenway began shortly before Tropical Storm Helene caused catastrophic flooding and altered the landscape of the Swannanoa River bed and stream banks. In the months after the storm, the project area was re-surveyed to determine impacts on existing conditions, and in March of 2025, City staff met with FEMA for a site inspection of the greenway, an important milestone in the process to determine funding eligibility through the FEMA Public Assistance Program.

Due to unexpected riverbank changes within the proposed greenway alignment, the project team must now determine the most feasible path forward, which may include reconstructing the affected riverbank or adjusting the course of the greenway path. As of October 2025, the City is actively pursuing FEMA funding eligibility and exploring options for resilient mitigation and restoration of the project area. Though a construction re-start date is yet to be determined, the City remains committed to building the Swannanoa River Greenway.

swannanoa river greenway path image

The first extension segment of the Swannanoa River Greenway will be a paved pathway that spans about one mile, connecting to an existing paved path at Riverbend Park and continuing west along the southern banks of the Swannanoa River underneath I-240 and Tunnel Road before ending at the intersection of Glendale Avenue and Thompson Street.

Visit the Project Page for more information.

Contact us by replying to this email or by reaching out to the Capital Projects Division Manager, Dustin Clemens, at dclemens@ashevillenc.gov.

Visit the Project Page for more information.

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