As part of its “Name that Creek” program, RiverLink last year performed a community engagement process to gather nominations and identify a preferred name for a short previously unnamed creek that runs along Waynesville Avenue in West Asheville, through the New Belgium Brewing site, and into the French Broad River.
This creek is receiving stream restoration treatment as part of the partnership with RiverLink and the Clean Water Management Trust Fund for Craven Street Improvements.
The community chose the name Penland Creek in honor of the Penland family businesses that contributed to the West Asheville and the riverfront’s cultural and economic development starting in the 1950s. The Penland family was then contacted to insure that there were no objections to using their name in this manner.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has now approved the proposal to apply the name Penland Creek to the previously unnamed creek. The name has been entered into the Geographic Names Information System.
Penland Creek is part of the Craven Street Watershed, which covers approximately 240 acres of predominantly residential property in eastern West Asheville. The stream bisects the New Belgium property. It runs through the Craven Street Improvement Project, a public infrastructure project that aims to improve stormwater runoff, water quality, pedestrian mobility, transportation and enhance the natural environmental features of the site.
Where is the creek?
The 0.8-mile long stream heads alongside Waynesville Avenue near the intersection of Treemont Street in West Asheville. It follows Waynesville Avenue to the Craven Street intersection where it curves around and empties into the French Broad River.
Photo by Ken Abbott of LEAP Ariel photography