Parks, Greenways and Blueways

Explore Land Conservation

If you have any questions about our land conservation initiatives you can contact our Land Resources Manager at:
stewardship@riverlink.org | (828) 252-8474 ext. 111

Providing Vital Connections to the River

RiverLink works to grow opportunities for all to experience the wonder and beauty that is the French Broad River—advancing awareness and stewardship of a shared asset that is vital to our environmental and economic well-being. Whether visiting public parks, floating along the river, or pedaling or walking along a greenway, we want everyone to have opportunities to enjoy the river as a place to live, learn, work, and play. Our projects help create healthier communities and a more resilient local economy that will benefit all members of our watershed community.

Promoting Climate Resilience

Our conservation work centers around protecting the French Broad watershed for present day and future generations to enjoy. With that in mind, it is imperative we take climate change and its impacts–both present day and future–into account. Creating parks and greenways help us manage the effects of climate change by:

Increasing shade cover for people sheltering from rising temperatures, simultaneously reducing the urban heat island effect.
Protecting green spaces from being developed, thereby preserving their ability to absorb increasing stormwater runoff during more frequent and intense storm events and reducing the risk of flooding.
Creating habitat and sanctuary for threatened plant and animal species being pressured by changes to their adapted environment.
Preserving spaces that are able to infiltrate and store water in groundwater reserves, helping us reduce the impacts of drought.
Protecting existing trees while also expanding green spaces, boosting the capacity of our natural allies to absorb excess carbon from the atmosphere.

At the same time, connecting our communities through greenways and blueways reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, the leading contributor to and cause of climate change. Providing the ability to travel safely by foot and bicycle helps reduce the quantity of pollutants entering the atmosphere as greenhouse gasses.

Related Projects

Gateway Park

The new Gateway Park will be constructed on Riverside Drive at the Pearson Bridge, where a sign currently marks the nearby OM Sanctuary – which donated the parcel to RiverLink in 2011. With meandering pathways and native plantings, arched gateways at both entrances and a carousel-inspired pavilion, the new park will resurrect a smaller version of the historic Riverside Park found at this location in the early 20th Century. Gateway Park will provide a natural respite designed to serve cyclists, runners, and pedestrians along the French Broad River. Read More

Woodfin Greenway & Blueway

The Woodfin Greenway & Blueway project is a now funded ambitious $34 million effort to construct five miles of greenway along the French Broad River and Beaverdam Creek, new river access sites, the new Silver-Line Park, expansion of Riverside Park, and creation of the in-stream Wave feature for whitewater paddling and surfing enthusiasts. Read More

Karen Cragnolin Park :: Greenway Phase

The 5.33-acre tract of land in the French Broad Park corridor was acquired by RiverLink in 2006. The property had previously been operated as an auto junkyard over a span of 50 years, and has since been remediated to the state of an open space, fenced property. We’re in the closing stages of adopting the Karen Cragnolin Park Master Plan that will mark the next step of progress in transforming a junkyard into a public park. Read More