Asheville Council Redirects $30.4M for Helene Park Recovery
City Council approved shifting previously allocated disaster recovery funds into the General Capital Projects Fund for storm-damaged parks.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in City Hall
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Asheville City Council approved a resolution transferring about $30.4 million in previously approved CDBG Disaster Recovery funds to the General Capital Projects Fund. The council also approved use of more than $1 million in FEMA funds to repair Helene-damaged infrastructure at Riverside Cemetery and Montford Park.
Why it matters
The transfer directs money toward rebuilding parks and historic sites still recovering from Tropical Storm Helene in Asheville. Residents who use these parks and the cemetery will see the repairs that the funding is meant to finance.
The council transferred about $30.4 million, with $9 million for the Azalea Parks project and $21.375 million for French Broad Parks, plus over $1 million in FEMA funds for Riverside Cemetery and Montford Park. The source does not state a repair completion date or full project cost.
The players
Asheville City Council
The Asheville City Council is the governing body of Asheville, North Carolina, responsible for approving city budgets, capital spending, and fund transfers.
The details
Planned work includes rebuilding retaining walls with greater structural capacity at Riverside Cemetery and Montford Park, repairing the historic cemetery entrance gate and columns, and addressing sinkholes and related roadway and stormwater damage in the cemetery.
Timeline
Tropical Storm Helene damaged Asheville parks and historic sites in September 2024.
The Asheville City Council approved the Helene recovery funding measures on November 10, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
The funding follows Tropical Storm Helene's September 2024 damage to Asheville's parks and historic sites, and the November 2026 council action marks a continuing phase of recovery more than two years after the storm. Restoration of storm-damaged public spaces in the Helene recovery effort continues to draw on federal disaster and FEMA funds.
Residents who visit Riverside Cemetery or Montford Park may see repair work and possible access changes as the rebuilding of the gate, retaining walls, and sinkhole areas proceeds. The source does not specify a schedule for when the work will begin or finish.
The takeaway
Storm recovery funding often moves through several budget transfers before visible repairs begin, so tracking council agendas can show when specific park projects advance. Residents interested in the cemetery and park work can follow future council meetings for updated timelines.
Further reading
For more on local government decisions, see Asheville City Hall coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLOS.
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