Canie Creek Greenway

A historic 32 acres of forest and wetland in Malvern Hills is listed for sale for development by Pulliam Properties. Development of this property would destroy what could become a beautiful woodland park for our community.

1. (The Vrabel Tract) West Asheville’s Newest Park Canie Creek Greenway

2. Waller Tract Location

3. Replace me

4. Development Concept Drawing

5. Concept Drawing with MSD Overlay

6. A Brief History A glimpse into West Asheville’s early settlement

7. Robert Henry After the Revolutionary War, Private Robert Henry, General Charles McDowell and Colonel David Vance were among the first to migrate to Buncombe County. Henry was acclaimed to have been Buncombe County's first teacher, first doctor and first resident lawyer. In 1827, he and his slave discovered the sulphur spring on his 770 acre farm. In 1830, his son-in-law, Reuben Deaver built a wooden hotel on the hill above the springs and began taking summer boarders. Patronage increased exponentially each year, and several additions were made to the hotel. By the 1840s, nearly 500 visitors were arriving each summer.

8. History: Robert Henry 1815: Robert Henry purchased 770 acres along Hominy Creek from John Jarrett 1827: Henry and his slave discovered the sulphur spring on his farm 1830 : Reuben Deaver, Henry’s son-in-law, built a wooden hotel on the hill above the springs and began taking summer boarders. By the 1840s, nearly 500 visitors were arriving each summer

9. Robert Henry’s Purchase

10. History: Swannanoa Hunt Club 1885: The Swannanoa Hunt Club incorporated as the Swannanoa Country Club and built a 9 hole golf course 1897 : The club moved to property on Merrimon which was on the trolley line and moved. It is now the Country Club of Asheville.

11. Swannanoa Hunt Club, circa 1895

12. History: Edwin Carrier 1885: Edwin Carrier buys 3000 acres including the Henry property 1887 : Carrier rebuilds the Sulphur Springs Hotel naming it the Belmont 1892 : The “fireproof” Belmont Hotel burns to the ground

13. Belmont Hotel at Sulphur Springs , circa 1890

14. History: Otto Schoenfeld 1906: Professor Otto Schoenfeld , world champion fencer purchased 220 acres around the springs to build a physical training school Shoenfeld is believed to have built the pavilion around the springs 1913 : Lawrance Fabacher purchased the undeveloped property

15. Sulphur Springs Pavilion, circa 1920

16. History: City to build park 1920: Mayor Gallatin Roberts announces that the City of Asheville is purchasing the property from Fabacker for a park. “ I consider this property the finest to be found anywhere for park purposes ,” Mayor Roberts declared

17. The Springs

18. History: Malvern Hills Country Club 1925: “ A small but charming club house will be built on the golf course on the north side of the School Road and over the large sulphur spring” 1927-28 : Houses are built in the Malvern Hills community 1938 : Malvern Hills Golf Course is sold to Hilliard Green

19. Malvern Springs Clubhouse, circa 1927

20. History: Malvern Springs Park 1944: Chester Cogburn buys the Malvern Springs tourist park, with 25 log lodge units and including the Malvern Springs golf course and clubhouse The property has remained in the family since that purchase

21. Malvern Hills Springs Park

22. Log Cottage in Malvern Springs Park

23. A Look at Today A quick slide show of the greenway

24. Possibilities for Canie Creek Greenway

25. Possibilities: Community Park We could create a community park with a greenway that connects Patton and Sand Hill The park would be modeled after Bent Creek Community Park and other similar projects The property ideally would be put into a conservation land trust that would oversee its creation and maintenance

26. Possibilities: Connections A greenway through this tract would connect the Malvern Hills community to the river parks and eventually to downtown and Enka along the greenways The trail through the Goodwill property will provide connection to ART stop on Patton Avenue

27. Possibilities: Habitat The Vrabel property is home for many birds and animals We can plant native plants that provide food for wildlife Monarch butterflies are in crisis, the boggy areas would be great for planting milkweed We should appreciate and enhance the diverse ecosystems that exist here

28. Possibilities: Wetland Community work days could clean the creek and redevelop the riparian zone along creek We could enhance the boggy areas with a constructed wetland which will add diversity to the existing flora and fauna

29. Possibilities: Forest The property is beautifully forested with diverse trees A trust could manage the forest to allow old growth and diversity Work parties could clear vines out of trees Native hardwoods could be planted

30. Possibilities: History Sulphur Springs is a historic area with the earliest settlements in West Asheville The springs were important to the Cherokee, and became a popular destination in the 19 th century The meadow is the site of Asheville’s first golf course

31. Possibilities: Recreation The greenway will provide recreational space for the community Cycling Walking Playing in the creek Nature exploration Gathering for neighborhood potlucks

32. Possibilities: Education Teachers at Vance Elementary and Francine Delany have been developing curricula for use in the Hominy Creek Greenway which incorporates Plant and tree identification Experiencing the quiet of woodlands River ecology Invasive plants identification

33. Friends of Canie Creek Greenway Creating the vision

34. Friends of Canie Creek Greenway The Friends of Canie Creek Greenway will organize under the umbrella of the Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway. Both organizations celebrate wetlands and public space. The collaboration will help assure this new park’s creation.

35. Friends of Canie Creek Greenway: Goals To create and maintain a community park as an independent, resident funded entity that provides a safe place for children to play, as well as for our adults and youth to enjoy nature and community To protect the creek and natural wetlands that are a large part of our park area To connect Malvern Hills to the French Broad and beyond on the greenways

36. Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway Success Building community by working together

37. Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway The Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway is a group of neighbors and other stakeholders who are creating a vision and working to create special parks for our community. This group has had amazing success.

38. Cleanups

39. Volunteer Groups

40. Exercise and Fun

41. Beauty and Tranquility

42. Next steps

43. Next steps Organize – we have a core group to work as a steering committee Create our vision for the park Involve the community Create a managing entity Raise money Negotiate the purchase Celebrate!

44. The work begins March 16 – A core group met which will become our steering committee March 23 – A brief presentation at Malvern Hills Community meeting April 8 (tentative) - Major presentation for Malvern Hills Community

45. Come tour with us We invite you to come tour this beautiful property with us I am available for tours most any time Email: [email protected]

46. Together we can make it become a reality! Canie Creek Greenway

47. Together we can make it become a reality!