June 17 - July 5 Closure of Part of Pack Square Park

Asheville -- May 29, 2024: In Pack Square Park's Roger McGuire Green, an answer to a recurring problem for Asheville's

festival and event planners—as well as the city parks management team—is approaching. The current "cool season" bermudagrass in that area of the park will be replaced with "warm season" hybrid bermudagrass, which grows best in the spring, summer, and fall, when most events at Pack Square Park occur. The lawns between South Market Street and Court Plaza will close to prepare the ground, plant sod, and give the roots time to grow; Splasheville, Bascom Lamar Lunsford Stage, J. Rush Oates Plaza, and the restroom-equipped pavilion will stay open. 

680 acres of parks and public areas are overseen by Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) in various parts of the city. Compared to neighboring parks, the 6.5-acre Pack Square Park in downtown frequently acts as a de facto town square and draws more numbers for outdoor special events. Both locals and guests should anticipate the lawn recovering from activities more quickly.

“Parks and outdoor spaces see much more use during warmer months as people want to enjoy the natural beauty of our city or attend the many outdoor special events Asheville is known for,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “This opportunity for our team to work smarter means more access to Pack Square Park for the community and more time we can spend maintaining and improving parks in other parts of the city to keep them safe, clean and welcoming. This project is a testament to the innovative spirit of APR’s Asset Management division which oversees maintenance and repairs, painting, mowing, landscaping, and trades work such as plumbing, electrical, and mechanical tasks. The new grass is designed to thrive in summer and actively restore itself with less water and support than the current lawn.”

In the week leading up to the green’s closure, APR team members may be seen prepping the area to ensure the project starts and stays on schedule. Starting June 17, access to Roger McGuire Green and Reuter  Terrace will be restricted by a temporary fence erected around its perimeter.

Movies in the Park’s showing of Barbie on June 14 and Splasheville Days on June 15-16 are scheduled so the community may enjoy all areas of the park right up to the partial closure. Bookending the project, Splasheville Days return on July 6-7 and Movies in the Park returns July 12 with a special tenth-anniversary showing of Guardians of the Galaxy.

The City of Asheville’s Office of Special Events within the Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities Department permits events in parks, streets, and other outdoor public spaces. To search APR’s parks, greenways, playgrounds, and unique spaces throughout the city, visit this page to filter by location type and features.

For more on TifTuf Bermudagrass, visit Super-Sod’s  website

WNCTimes

Image Credit: Asheville Government