Asheville City Parks - Good And Safe Ones (housing, crime)

[RCH]

My wife and I will be in Asheville in a few weeks,usually we picnic on the
Blue Ridge Parkway.
We thought of going to one of the city parks in Asheville,just wondered
which ones were good, and in a safe area?

Any suggestions would be most helpful,we will be at the Grove Arcade,
later touring Riverside Cemetery,then the city park for lunch before coming
home.

[Asheville Native]

Sadly in 'city parks' you will be sharing them with the homeless, beggars, weirdo's, those under the influence of some chemical and others. Prichard Park is probably the safest during the time the full time "park warden" is on duty in her little kiosk. Downtown is so overrun with those that cause trouble or create a disturbance that the city has hired a full time person to keep the peace at the most central gathering spot, Prichard Park.

[Clark Mackey]

I'm posting because I saw only 1 reply here. That first post about parks full of weirdo's is a bit of a stretch.

My wife and I take our dog to the French Broad river park at the corner of Amboy Rd and River Rd regularly - it's quite nice and has a dog park as well. The nearby Carrier park is also nice and either is a good picnic spot. I've never felt unsafe in either.

Pritchard Park, in dowtown, is more of a triangular shaped commons surrounded by urban buildings - nice space, but not quite a regular park. It has small ampitheater and plays host to vaious events - the drum circle, music, etc.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Clark Mackey

I'm posting because I saw only 1 reply here. That first post about parks full of weirdo's is a bit of a stretch.

My wife and I take our dog to the French Broad river park at the corner of Amboy Rd and River Rd regularly - it's quite nice and has a dog park as well. The nearby Carrier park is also nice and either is a good picnic spot. I've never felt unsafe in either.

A woman and her children were accosted earlier this month at Carrier Park by 8 - 10 youths that stole some of her possessions, likely from the nearby Pisgah View housing project. While APD did get her stuff back later, apparently nothing was done to these 'youths'.

I would not really consider Carrier Park even moderately safe due to the proximity to Pisgah View Projects, and the drugs and crime that it harbors.