Joel Burgess

jburgess@citizen-times.com

ASHEVILLE - The mountain views in this area are jaw-droppingly beautiful, drawing visitors from around the world to gape at ridges that fade from dark green to pink at day's end.

But in terms of public places with a good view in city limits, choices are few.

Now local conservation advocates say there is a golden opportunity to change that, and they want the public's help.

The group Friends of Overlook Park is seeking public input on three concepts for a public overlook near one of Asheville's highest points. Beaucatcher Overlook Park would be at the site of the city's former White Fawn Reservoir, said Bob Roepnack, who manages the friends group that is affiliated with the nonprofit conservation group GreenWorks.

The park would be just southeast of downtown with views to the southwest.

"This park not only benefits the residents all around the area, but as for a tourist destination it makes it a nice place for people to go up there and have a nice wedding party or hold other events," Roepnack said. "There could be teaching opportunities, looking at plants and demonstrating what grows up there."

The space could accommodate a group of 20-30 people, he said.

The meeting is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave. The public will get a chance to view the concepts created by three teams of landscape architects.

Ideas range from special viewing platforms to mountaintop orchards and edible plants.

"Community Porch"

Overlook feels like a public porch.

Natural knoll "spills" into the pathway where there is a break in the reservoir wall.

City sunset overlook.

Iconic covered viewing platform pavilion over trail.

Reservoir serves as a "room" - multiple smaller rooms and series of large and small terraces for views.

Pisgah overlook.

15 parking spaces.

Knoll with edible plantings.

Ridge line promontory.

Vegetation frames views.

"WNC Mountaintop"​

Spaces defined by eco-system vegetated "rooms" with balds, meadows, wetlands and a rain garden.

Semi-formal spaces.

Large meadow.

Kenilworth trail connection that connects to McCauley Drive and Reservoir Road.

Water/reservoir theme and "inspired circulation."

Vegetation and grading used to soften, frame and define spaces, including meditative spaces and grass rippling in wind.

Series of viewsheds.

10 parking spaces with formal lawn.

Connection from forest to "bald," using native grasses mown once a year.

"Skyview Park"​

Overlook tower for a city view.

Formal lawn for picnicking and kite flying.

Terracing creates formal structure and becomes more informal farther away from reservoir.

Reservoir "radiates" outward with exposed rim and seat walls.

Orchard at entrance with interpretive elements.

Trail access from McCauley Drive.

"Drama" of views, which are concealed and then revealed.

Forest has definitive edge.

Edible plants along lower walkway.

Car access would be by Reservoir Road, but parking would be limited to a few spaces mainly for the handicapped, according to the concepts, though there would be drop-off areas.

The primary way view seekers would get to the park would be by foot with a connection to the Beaucatcher Greenway, a path linking Memorial Stadium with the landmark Helen's Bridge at a northern section of Beaucatcher Mountain. A hike from the Memorial parking lot near downtown would take 15-20 minutes. The greenway has been approved and is awaiting a construction start.

"It’s a very nice shaded walk right in the middle of an urban area. So you don’t have to get into your car to have a nice little hike," Roepnack said.

Greenworks and the friends group paid the landscape architects and have engaged a design consultant, Equinox, that will produce the final master plan following public input.

The Tuesday meeting will likely be followed with other public input opportunities, Roepnack said.

There is no estimate on what it would cost to built the park. The overlook advocates are hoping to have a master plan document ready to share with the city by the fall. From there, it's unclear exactly how construction would be funded. City Council is exploring a multimillion-dollar bond referendum that could include parks.

The old White Fawn Reservoir was built in the 1930s to supply Asheville with drinking water, but has long since been drained and filled with old construction debris.

Park vision:



"The park reflects Asheville's aesthetic, natural and cultural qualities with a simple, sustainability designed (with use of native

and recycled materials) and inspirational passive park with National Park qualities," according to the friends group.

Public input meeting

When: 5-7 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave.

Contracting landscape architecture firm Equinox will use the input in creating a park master plan.