While the city is off to a chilly start to the year, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) is urging locals to make a plan for summer swimming and aquatic adventures. Following catastrophic Helene-related destruction to Recreation Park’s pool, the City of Asheville will only open the public pool at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center this year. However, the pool will be open longer hours, and APR staff are actively seeking partnerships to provide pool access in other parts of the city.
“While the full extent of Helene’s damage is still coming into focus, we do know that Recreation Park’s pool suffered major structural damage and the park itself is inaccessible as the bridge and roads were destroyed,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “As someone who began my career in the aquatics field, it breaks my heart that we are limited to one public pool within city limits this year. We are working to provide as many alternatives as possible, but wanted to share this information early so families and community members can make a plan for warm weather that is still months away.”
Grant Southside Center Pool
Opened in 2023, the modern outdoor pool at Grant Southside Center is centrally located and features a toddler play zone, lounge deck, picnic tables, restrooms, and changing rooms.
- Admission is $3 per day
- For the 2025 season, regular pool hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday from 12-7 p.m., though hours may vary due to weather or special events
- Expected dates of operation are May 24-September 1, 2025 (weekends only before June 7 and after August 17)
- After hours pool parties are available by reservation through Swim Club Management Group
Where Else Can I Beat the Heat?
APR is actively coordinating with other organizations to provide public open swim times this summer. If your organization is interested in partnering, please contact D. Tyrell McGirt at dtmcgirt@ashevillenc.gov or 828-259-5808.
- APR operates Asheville’s only free public splash pad, Splasheville in Pack Square Park. It is expected to open by mid-April, but the opening date is subject to weather conditions.
- APR hosts multiple free Summer Splash Days and Foam Parties in the Park at parks throughout the summer with dates announced in May
- Buncombe County Parks & Recreation operates five outdoor and one indoor pool (more info)
- There are a number of membership or day pass pools in the area. Please contact individual locations for more info.
- Asheville Racquet Club (two locations)
- YMCA of Western North Carolina (two locations with pools in Asheville)
- Asheville Jewish Community Center
- Country Club of Asheville
- East Asheville Recreation Club
- Odyssey School
- The Omni Grove Park Inn Sports Complex
What’s Next for Asheville’s Pools?
Asheville voters overwhelmingly approved a general obligation (GO) bond referendum in November allocating up to $20 million for parks and recreation improvements throughout the city. The community engagement and design phase for a new bond-funded pool in Malvern Hills Park is expected to start later this year. For more on community infrastructure projects, check out this article.
Asheville Recovers Resources
- Share your priorities using this survey by February 2 to help guide City Council’s discussions and decision-making as we work to recover and rebuild our city
- Read this article about suggestions for dog park, sand volleyball, skating, biking, and disc golf enthusiasts while the City of Asheville works on long-term solutions
- Read this article to find out how the FEMA Public Assistance program may help rebuild parks, streets, buildings, and other municipal assets
- Visit the Asheville Recovers engagement hub to leave comments and ask questions about the the City of Asheville’s recovery process
Asheville Parks & Recreation: Explore, Connect, Discover!
With its oldest parks dating to the 1890s, Asheville Parks & Recreation manages a unique collection of more than 65 public parks, playgrounds, and open spaces throughout the city in a system that also includes full-complex recreation centers, Riverside Cemetery, sports fields and courts, and community centers that offer a variety of wellness-, education-, and culture-related programs for Ashevillians of all ages. With paved greenways and natural surface trails, its complete portfolio acts as the foundation of a vibrant hub for the people of Asheville to connect with their neighbors and explore the natural beauty of a livable and walkable city. As the city works to recover and rebound in the wake of massive destruction, some spaces are currently inaccessible.
Driven by the promise that Asheville is a better and safer place when everyone from infants to retirees has the opportunity to be supported, healthy, and successful, Asheville Parks & Recreation was the first nationally-accredited municipal recreation department in the United States. For latest updates, sign up for Asheville Parks & Recreation’s monthly newsletter, follow the department on Facebook (@aprca) and Instagram (@ashevilleparksandrecreation), or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/parks.