There's no question that Asheville's love for its green spaces runs deep — but in the wake of the storm, the normally full city parks and greenways stood empty. Crowds of joggers and dog walkers were replaced with piles of debris.

Despite swaths of downed trees and damaged infrastructure, more than half of the City of Asheville parks have now been able to reopen. The reopenings were clearly no small feat, so we spoke to the folks over at Asheville Parks and Recreation (APR) to find out how the work is done and where our parks stand now.

Park restoration is a process

As with most of our area's storm-damaged spots, the first step was to assess the damage. APR worked with other City of Asheville departments to conduct on-site inspections in accessible parks and analyze aerial imagery and GIS data in inaccessible parks. After evaluating the extent of the damage, they began to prioritize repair efforts.

Because the damage to the parks is incredibly varied, APR landed on a phased approach, starting with cleaning and clearing parks that sustained minor damage (like downed trees). After these parks were deemed safe, they opened back up.

Phase two of the approach is a little more complicated. Several parks sustained much more significant damage (like flooding or landslides), and restoration will have to be extensive. APR will have to coordinate with FEMA, as well as federal, state, and local regulatory entities before they can open.

Hardest hit parks have a long road ahead

As you might imagine, the timelines for opening these significantly damaged parks vary widely and can be quite uncertain. Some parks and greenways, especially those along the river, suffered catastrophic damage — amenities like playgrounds and bridges being destroyed and portions of land being washed away. Parks like these are closed indefinitely, as they will need a lot more help. For example, the velodrome in Carrier Park will need a full engineering assessment once all the debris is removed.

Assessments are still ongoing, and full recovery of the parks is a long way away — no real timeline can be given, since the process will be so complex and the damage is so extensive. As with many of the city's recovery efforts, APR is working to get as much access as possible to financial reimbursement, grant support, and technical assistance.

"We are committed to restoring our community’s parks to their former glory, but it will take time and considerable resources," said an APR rep. "In the meantime, we kindly ask the community to avoid closed areas for their own safety."

Check out the APR website to see which parks are open to the public.