The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) has announced that it has approved the Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) recommendation to award a $6 million grant to Buncombe County Recreation Services as part of their 2018 funding cycle. The grant represents the final piece in securing an estimated $12 million for expansions and improvements to the Buncombe County Sports Park and Bob Lewis Ballfields along with development of the Enka Heritage Trail.
“We are extremely grateful to the BCTDA for their willingness to partner with us through the Tourism Product Development Fund. The capital they bring to the project solved a funding problem that we’ve been working to solve for years and allowed us to deliver a much larger project than we originally envisioned,” says Buncombe County Parks and Recreation Director Josh O’Conner.
While the project will benefit the entirety of Buncombe County and the region at-large, it will be located in District 3, represented by Commissioners Joe Belcher and Robert Pressley. “This is awesome,” says Commissioner Pressley through a massive smile, noting his kids play ball and he’s seen the revenue potential hosting tournaments can have. “This will bring the revenue in quicker than anything I’ve seen in my two years as a Commissioner.”
“One of our big goals is to find projects that drive room nights and are great for the community. This fits both criteria,” notes Robert Foster, Chair of the TPDF that works with the TDA on selecting projects that receive funding. “We have a phenomenal opportunity to host tournaments [at this site] in the future. It’s a huge win-win.”
Commission Belcher, who also holds a seat on the TDA, says, “It’s a big deal for the County and the citizens.” He notes the return on investment will be dramatic. “The projects supported are going to make dramatic impacts in the community. From a funding standpoint, this money is paid by people outside of Buncombe County, and that’s a big deal.”
Buncombe Recreation is excited to move this project closer to reality. “The community has been working to build momentum behind this project and we’re thrilled to have the funding in place,” says O’Conner, who adds all aspects of the project represent “a major advancement in our area’s recreational amenities.” Of particular importance is the Enka Heritage Trail. “It’s an important aspect to our County’s greenway system because it emphasizes the cultural history of the Enka community and the River Cane breaks that are important sites of significance for the Cherokee,” explains County Greenway Planner Karla Furnari.
O’Conner says construction phases will begin in the spring with a total completion date set for mid-2022. For more specifics on the project visit Buncombe County’s website. For more information on the grant process visit ashevillecvb.com/product-development/.