Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan, Urban park along French Broad River in Asheville, North Carolina.
The Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan is a greenway network running roughly 17 miles along two rivers in Asheville. The system features continuous trails with wide paths for walking and biking that weave through converted industrial riverfront areas.
The project started in the 1980s when a local organization developed a plan to revitalize the neglected riverfront. Over subsequent decades, industrial areas were gradually converted into public green spaces and connected recreation corridors.
The park honors a writer who championed environmental causes and documented the river's importance to the region's identity. Walking along the restored banks today, visitors can sense how the waterway remains central to how locals connect with their surroundings.
The network is easy to access with roughly 4.5 miles of continuously paved paths featuring wide walkways, bike racks, and seating areas. Plan to visit during daylight hours since lighting is available only on certain sections, making evening use more limited.
A former racetrack was converted into one of the main parks within the system, demonstrating how Asheville reinvented its waterfront. This transformation was made possible by years of cooperation between residents, officials, and local groups.
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