Fall for Asheville Parks & Recreation - and receive a gift!

Out-of-towners like to speculate when fall foliage will peak in Asheville to plan a visit. For locals, the beauty of living in the Blue Ridge Mountains means the chance to enjoy a regional show of bright yellow, burnt orange, and vibrant purple hues that can last six to eight weeks. That span is shorter in Asheville proper, but autumn is still a spectacular time of year to explore the city’s parks.

While enjoying the return of cool, crisp air this season, join friends and neighbors in the Fall for Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) scavenger hunt to receive an APR tote bag. Like the Fit 50 Challenge tees seen around town, this gift is exclusively available to those who visit eight of the 15 locations listed below and take a picture to commemorate their fall visit.

Fall for Asheville Parks & Recreation Rules

Register on our website by November 15, 2022. This helps us know how many tote bags to order.
Visit at least eight of the locations listed below between October 1 – November 30, 2022.
Post a selfie of your visit on Instagram and/or Facebook, use #Fall4APR, and tag us. We’re @ashevilleparksandrecreation on Instagram and @APRCA on Facebook.
Not into selfies? Just bring along a stuffed animal or other unique object to include in your pictures instead of yourself. If you’re not on social media, simply snap your shots and show them to us.
Stop by Stephens-Lee Community Center (30 George Washington Carver Ave.) between November 28-December 15 to show us your pics and get your tote bag. If you can’t make it to Stephens-Lee during this time, email parks@ashevillenc.gov to arrange to pick up on a later date or at another community center.
Have fun as you explore, connect, and discover public spaces around your city!

Scavenger Hunt Locations

Follow the adventures of our four-legged friend through this gallery for a reference to each location. Visit at least eight to receive your tote bag.

two stuffed raccoons sitting on wooden bridge railing — Crossin’ the creek @Weaver Park in north Asheville

two stuffed raccoons sitting on table in front of graffiti art wall — Chillin’ in the sun @Triangle Park in downtown Asheville

two stuff raccoons holding tennis and pickleball racquets — Racquets anyone? @Murphy Oakley Park in east Asheville

two stuffed raccoons climbing the sign wall that says Jake Rusher Park — Climbin’ the wall @Jake Rusher Park in south Asheville

two stuffed raccoons beside French Broad River Greenway sign — Hittin’ the greenway @French Broad River Greenway in west Asheville

stuffed raccoons at the foot of MLK statue — Rest and reflection @MLK Jnr. Park in central Asheville

two stuffed raccoons under a tree at azalea park — Arm in arm @Azalea Park in East Asheville

2 stuffed raccoons with a basketball on Kenilworth Park courts — Kickin’ back @ Kenliworth Park in east Asheville

2 stuffed raccoons hanging on carrier park playground equipment — Climbin’ @Carrier Park in west Asheville

2 stuffed raccoons under Frisbee golf sign at Richmond Hill park — Frisbee golf @Richmond Hill Park in west Asheville

2 stuffed raccoons at riverside cemetary gates — paying respect @Riverside Cemetery in north Asheville

2 stuffed raccoons under the arch at Linwood Park in south Asheville — under the arch @Linwood Park in South Asheville

2 stuffed raccoons play table tennis at Tempie Avery — Table tennis anyone? @Tempie Avery community center in north Asheville

Central
- - Memorial sculpture in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park (50 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.)
  - Murals in Triangle Park (56 S. Market St.)
  - Any station on the Urban Trail (trail begins in Pack Square Plaza in front of Asheville Art Museum with stations throughout downtown)

East

- - Dog park in Azalea Park (395 Azalea Rd.)
  - Sports courts in Murphy-Oakley Park (715 Fairview Rd.)
  - Basketball court in Kenilworth Park (79 Wyoming Rd.)

North

- - Ping pong plaza in Tempie Avery Montford Community Center’s recreation complex (34 Pearson Dr.)
  - Entrance gate to Riverside Cemetery (53 Birch St.)
  - Bridge on Glenn’s Creek Greenway in Weaver Park (parking lots are located on 200 Murdock Ave. and 430 Merrimon Ave.)

South

- - Friendship arch in Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center’s recreation complex (121 Shiloh Rd.)
  - Picnic shelter in Jake Rusher Park (160 Sycamore Dr.)
  - Ballfields in Ray L. Kisiah Park (70 W. Chapel Rd.)

West

- Hole #1 on Richmond Hill Park’s disc golf course (300 Richmond Hill Dr.)
- Anywhere on French Broad River Greenway (trailheads with parking lots are located on 220 Hominy Creek Rd. and 8 Emma Rd. with additional parking along the greenway in Amboy Riverfront Park, Carrier Park, French Broad River Park, and Buncombe County’s Hominy Creek River Park)
- Communication board in Carrier Park’s playground (220 Amboy Rd.)

Questions? Email parks@ashevillenc.gov.