North side of Veterans Park reopens for public use

Amenities remain closed while repairs continue in 27-acre Black Mountain Recreational Facility

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 8, 2025

Nearly one year after Tropical Storm Helene, the Town of Black Mountain announced the Sept. 8, reopening of the north side of Veterans Park. Photo by Fred McCormick

A popular Black Mountain recreation destination reopened, Sept. 8, nearly one year after Tropical Storm Helene destroyed much of its infrastructure.

The north side of Veterans Park, which closed after a significant section was submerged by flooding from the adjacent Swannanoa River, will continue to undergo repairs.

The 27-acre facility, owned and operated by the Town of Black Mountain, is bisected by I-40. The south side of the park, which includes the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden, pollinator habitats and holes 10 - 18 of a public disc golf course, remained accessible from White Pine Drive, following the storm.

While the baseball and softball fields on the north side were reconstructed last fall by a private campaign, known as Operation Love and Hope, the facility was only open to youth sports participants and observers during events.

The Town Recreation and Parks Department announced the reopening of the north side of Veterans Park, Sept. 5, in a social media post.

“While we are excited to welcome you back to the park, we ask that you please bear with us as we continue to make repairs and improvements,” the message stated.

The tunnel under the interstate that connects both sides of the facility remains closed, while the bridge linking it to The Oaks Trail, east of the Swannanoa River, was washed away during Helene. The restrooms and concession stand near the athletic fields also remain closed, as well as the front nine holes of the disc golf course.

Park visitors can resume fishing, walking and running or picnicking in the space from sunrise to sunset.

Veterans Park was one of at least 32 town-owned properties to sustain damage in the natural disaster that caused the Swannanoa River to crest at 27 feet in some areas. The Town is seeking funding from FEMA to replace the pedestrian bridge, restore the streambank and repair the connection under I-40, restrooms and the concession stand.

That process involves “a lot of moving parts,” Mike Cheverie of Innovative Emergency Management, hired last October by the Town to assist in recovery efforts, told elected officials in an Aug. 13, special call meeting.

“This one is a little complicated, as well, because there are a lot of questions we have for FEMA,” he said in a presentation to the town council. “For instance, can we rebuild the streambanks, or do we need a bigger bridge? Those questions have to go to the (Environmental Protection Agency), and will they let us do that?”

Completing the repairs in Veterans Park, which was established in 1991 before being flooded and rebuilt five years later, “may take a little longer than we’d like,” the IEM representative told officials.

“Some of this stuff we have to have permission to do before we start,” he said. “Again, there are a lot of moving parts, so keep that in mind when we talk about Veterans Park and all the things going on there.”

The north side of the park is accessible from Blue Ridge Road, while entering the south side requires visitors to park at the end of White Pine Drive.

“Thank you for your patience as we continue to restore Veterans Park,” the recreation department said, while announcing the reopening of the facility.