The Buncombe County Greenway Master Plan includes plans for greenways already under development in various parts of the county. One such section is in the town of Black Mountain.
Following a town wide visioning process which showed greenway development as a priority of the citizens, the first Greenway Master Plan was developed and adopted in 2002. A Greenway task force was formed which was formalized into the Black Mountain Greenway Commission in 2006.
The main trunk of our greenway system will run from east to west through town. There will be connections to the town of Montreat, our schools, and our recreation centers. The sections currently on the ground are:
Lake Tomahawk, Flat Creek, Village Way, Oaks Trail, Garden Greenway, and Riverwalk.
Ultimately, our greenway system will flow into a greenway which runs through the Swannanoa Valley and connects into the Asheville Greenway system. A feasibility study for this greenway has been done.
Maps of our greenway system can be found at the Swannanoa Valley Chamber of Commerce or the Recreation and Parks Office.
The section of greenway which is currently being worked on will run from the Flat Creek Greenway to the dog park behind Bi Lo and under Hwy 9 to connect in the future to the Oaks Trail and Veterans Park. Planning is currently underway for this section. We hope to go under Hwy 70, under the Railroad and under Hwy 9. This will be a costly section of greenway to build but it will allow people to safely get across those major roads.
The Greenway Commission in Black Mountain was created to advise the Board of Aldermen about greenways development and management, to work with staff to develop the greenways system, and to actively promote public education and awareness of the benefits of greenways. We hold many events throughout the year with these goals in mind.
A few of our activities include:
- Greenway Challenge 5 and 10k is held annually in April as both a fundraiser and educational event. Selling socks and spreading greenway information at the Farmer’s Market Holiday event each November.
- Taking part annually in the Christmas parade, where in keeping with our green and healthy theme, we throw pickles to the crowd.
- We also hold annual tours of our greenway system in the spring and help with the bi-yearly Bike/Walk to school events. We are currently looking to add more events to our calendar and to develop a network of volunteers to help us.
The Greenway Commission also raises money which it uses to help the city provide matching funds for grants it receives, to create promotional materials for our greenways, and to provide signage and other amenities along our greenways. We have been fortunate the past 2 years to receive grant funding to place art along our greenway system. Check out the marvelous bird nest behind Bi Lo at Riverwalk Park which was crafted by Julia Burr. And visit the Garden Greenway in the coming year to see Julia’s next creation! The Greenway Commission is a part of the Black Mountain Parks and Greenway Foundation. Contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible. Donations can be sent to :
Black Mountain Parks and Greenways Foundation
PO Box 253
Black Mountain, NC 28711
*Please specify that the donation is for greenways.
Black Mountain Greenways are a part of the Recreation and Parks program in Black Mountain. For more information, please contact
Jill Edwards, Health Service Programs Administrator: jill.edwards@ townofblackmountain.org, (828) 669-2052 OR Julie White, Chair, Black Mountain Greenway Commission: [email protected], (828) 669-6445.
In closing I want to share a short video showcasing our greenways. Many thanks to Marilyn Sobanski, Tom Sobanski, and Garry Biggers for producing this video for us.
Julie White, Chair, Black Mountain Greenway Commission
