Happening Now

The AVL Unpaved Alliance and its contractor, Elevated Trail Design (ETD), are preparing to build the natural surface trails at French Broad River West and Azalea Park. ETD has begun flagging the trail alignment, and will work with the City to obtain necessary permits before beginning construction.

Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2026 and be complete in Fall 2026.

Map of French Broad River West unpaved trail
Map of Azalea Park unpaved trail

Background

AVL Unpaved is a community-supported initiative, led by Asheville on Bikes, Pisgah Area SORBA, and Connect Buncombe, dedicated to building a network of multi-use natural surface trails connecting Asheville-area residents and visitors with the natural environment and the city. Users will be able to access the trail system via greenway, sidewalks, bike lanes, and trailheads. These trails will connect to and expand the city’s existing multimodal transportation network.

In July 2025, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with the AVL Unpaved Alliance to build and maintain the trails at French Broad River West and Azalea Park. The Alliance was awarded $188,355 in funding from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority to build the unpaved natural surface trails. The agreement calls for the Alliance to maintain the trails for three years, with an option to renew for an additional three years, before the City takes over maintenance.

AVL Unpaved is one of the many projects planned through the City’s GAP Plan (Greenway, ADA Transition, and Pedestrian master plans combined), adopted in October 2022.

AVL Unpaved will provide residents and visitors with the following benefits:

• Increased access to health and wellness opportunities through nature
• Increased connections to neighborhoods and commerce as the AVL Unpaved network expands
• Access to natural trails within the city limits, part of Asheville’s vision for its greenway network
• Sustainable design and construction for minimal environmental impact and optimal use
• More trails for fewer dollars – Natural surface trails can be built for a fraction of the cost of traditional greenways, and can use lands where greenways would be too costly to build.
• Increased sense of community and new opportunities for community service and programmed activities

Timeline

Summer 2022 – AVL Unpaved Alliance established and Letter of Intent entered with the City of Asheville. 

October 25, 2022 – GAP Plan adopted by City Council

Summer 2022 through Summer 2023 – Community engagement meetings, public engagement, and preparation for Alliance-led projects.

Spring & Summer 2024 – City finalized land use agreements with land managers

Fall 2024 through Spring 2025 – Project paused due to impacts from Hurricane Helene

Summer 2025 – AVL Unpaved / City of Asheville Use Agreement to City Council for approval

Spring 2026 – AVL Unpaved Alliance will issue RFP for trail-builder

Summer 2026 – Begin Phase 1 trail construction

Contact

Anna Sexton, Urban Planner III