We posed a question to our readers — What do you want to see for downtown Asheville? In return, we received hundreds of responses that voiced your ideas, concerns, and desires for our city. Many of you expressed a need for green spaces, bike lanes and parking, and affordable housing, including changing the affordable housing definition. Others wanted to see museums and a preservation of the historical buildings + skyline.

But these ideas don't have to just be answers to our survey. Here are a few ways you can speak up about the present and future of our community.

Getting engaged

The City of Asheville and the Buncombe County Government have community engagement hubs where they make frequent calls for public input and highlight ongoing projects. On the County's page, you can find surveys on parks and recreation, community board participation, and Board of Commissioners meeting times, and a calendar shows upcoming meetings and events.

The hub for the City also has a calendar, surveys, City Council meeting agendas, public comment guidelines, and a place to submit virtual comments if you can't attend a meeting. You can also sign up for Your Voice, Your Choice — which connects with voices often missing from the decision-making process. It asks a couple of questions about experiences and interests, then sends you notifications when related projects and initiatives come up.

See the design for the renovated pool. | Photo via City of Asheville

Getting out there

You don't just have to raise a virtual voice, though — projects often call for in-person feedback during public meetings or community workshops. Here's one coming up soon:

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m., the City of Asheville will host a community open house at West Asheville Park to gather input on Malvern Hills Park’s new swimming pool. You can also chat with the project team at the West Asheville Tailgate Market on Tuesday, Sept. 30.