Q: Looking for Sustainability or Team Building Initiatives during your time in Asheville?
A: Partner with the 35-year old nonprofit that put “river” in the River Arts District.
RiverLink is deeply rooted in Asheville and its relationship with the French Broad River including the extensive greenways and river parks that define the city today. In addition to educating over 5,000 youths a year, conserving urban and semi-urban lands as an accredited land trust, and overseeing a robust stormwater management and green infrastructure program – RiverLink is the one-stop-river-conservation-shop in the region. We invite you to partner with us during your stay.
Custom opportunities can include the following types of activities based on your time and needs or any outing you would like to put together to fully experience the rich history of Asheville’s relationship to the French Broad River.
On-Site Experience
Come visit one of RiverLink’s conservation projects located in the City of Asheville for a unique team-building experience and educational opportunity.
Join us to learn about our region’s vibrant ecology, the river that sustains us, and what it takes to protect clean water and native habitats in an urban environment. Our staff will begin the On-Site Experience with a customizable educational session on a variety of topics rooted in the characteristics and history of each site. Then we will work together to improve the site through hands-on activities such as identifying and removing non-native invasive plants, litter cleanup, or planting native species. We aim to provide a meaningful and unique team-building experience that highlights environmental sustainability and best practices for conservation.
We are conscious of each individual’s abilities and strive to provide activities that most can engage in, but please note that we will be outside for this experience. We will review safety information at each site, but participants should be able to walk on uneven surfaces.
Our portfolio includes properties and projects throughout Asheville. Below are two examples of locations we may visit and what participants can experience while we are there.
Sustainability + Team Building
Location: Karen Cragnolin Park
Named in honor of RiverLink’s visionary founder, this parcel in the heart of the French Broad River park corridor along Amboy Road exhibits an impressive transformation from a former junkyard to a reclaimed, climate-resilient public greenway.
- Learn about:
- WNC’s incredible plant and animal diversity
- What it takes to create and maintain a native pollinator meadow
- The importance of green spaces along the river
- And more
- Work together to:
- Improve the habitat for our native species
- Improve the habitat for people to enjoy
- Support RiverLink in our work to connect greenways
History + Equity
Location: Southside Community Wetland
Completed in June 2023, the Southside Community Stormwater Project was a collaborative effort to address water quality issues and the needs of a marginalized community significantly impacted by Urban Renewal in the 1970s. The site now hosts native flowers, edible plants, and walking trails.
- Learn About:
- The site’s history and role in the community
- Native plant and non-native invasive plant species
- Green infrastructure (features designed to manage rain water)
- Work Together to:
- Remove non-native invasive species
- Support features that help prevent flooding
- Support a community significantly impacted by inequitable practices
Reception
Join RiverLink and a partner for a private reception celebrating and highlighting sustainability, the French Broad River, and the River Arts District.
We invite your team to experience the River Arts District in an entirely unique way – by connecting with RiverLink, the environmental non-profit that had a major hand in revitalizing Asheville’s river corridor, in one of the many thriving businesses that enlivens the District today. Enjoy conversation and connection, the beer, and the arts, while learning about the past, present, and future of the ancient river that defines this mountain city.
We have many fabulous partners that can host a reception with us, below are two well-known groups that we can visit together. Let us know if you prefer a more boutique experience with a smaller local partner.
Brewery + RiverLink Experience
Location: New Belgium Brewery
Built on a once-contaminated brownfield, this expansive LEED-certified operation includes a 146,000-square-foot brewery, visitors center, and outdoor amenities including greenway access and an event lawn with bridges traversing a restored natural stream, plus extensive green infrastructure for nature-based stormwater management throughout. We’ll enjoy liquid refreshment on a beautiful covered deck overlooking the French Broad!
Art Gallery + RiverLink Experience
Location: The Marquee
The Marquee is a design-centric marketplace offering over 50,000 square feet of booths by curated vendors from around the region. Creative offerings include antiques, vintage and artful decor, jewelry and craft for the home and garden. With over 250 vendors, The Marquee recalls a European street market with the colorful Asheville vibe.
Guest Speaker
Let us come to you and engage your team in an energetic, informative, interactive experience sharing stories of the French Broad River and its key role in Asheville’s past, present and future.
During your visit to Asheville, we would love the opportunity to share our knowledge and passion for the river with your team, but we are conscious of your time and transportation constraints. So let us bring the river to you – one of our expert staff can present on topics related to the French Broad River and its relationship with surrounding communities.
There are many topics that we can cover when it comes to the French Broad River. Below are two examples that we think showcase how special this watershed is.
Economic Engine
A recent study showed that the French Broad River and its tributaries generate over $3.8 billion annually to the regional economy. Learn more about the journey and transformation of this industrial and heavily polluted river to becoming the economic backbone of the region and the pressures the river faces today in this new role via a lively and interactive conversation.
Environmental Treasure
Asheville’s thriving community is built on the backbone of the French Broad River and all that it offers to the region economically, recreationally and environmentally. Learn more about the river’s environmental journey in one of the most bio-diverse regions of the world and what we need to do to continue to protect it for generations to come.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of experiences; we can customize most aspects of each activity listed. To learn more about partnering with RiverLink during your time in Asheville, please contact our Land Resources Manager at hannah@riverlink.org. Please share the following in your email:
- Your name and organization
- Phone number
- Date(s) you are interested in (if known)
- Activities of interest
- Any comments, questions, or concerns