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Proposed Wikipedia Entry: Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan

Introduction
The 'Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan is RiverLink's design to redevelop Asheville’s urban riverfront corridor as a demonstration project for the entire French Broad River watershed by connecting a 17-mile Greenway System along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. It was built and expanded on a former Plan created by RiverLink in 1989, called the Asheville Riverfront Plan, which won the American Planning Association Award and represents the consolidation of over 20 years of community efforts and visioning. Since its inception in 1987, RiverLink, a regional non-profit organization, has spearheaded The RiverWay by gaining public support and partnering with local, state, regional and federal agencies, the public at large, private foundations, Buncombe County and City of Asheville for the plan’s implementation.

Aside from providing environmental benefits, and recreational & wellness opportunities, the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan is expected to revitalize the riverfront by encouraging economic development and job creation. Proponents of the plan say that with a cost benefit analysis, the essence of The Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan speaks for itself in terms of return on investment, tax base enhancement, bond rating improvement, job creation, mixed-use and sustainable development. Furthermore, the connectivity of The RiverWay would encourage multi-modal transportation opportunities like bicycling, and enhance access to the city's riverfronts.

However, the full implementation of The RiverWay is a daunting and expensive task due its breadth of complexities, and requirement of resources. Nevertheless, RiverLink has continued to further the pan by attaining riverfront parcels through conservation easement donations and property sales. In addition, state and federal governments have played a role in funding the Dykeman Plan, primarily through DOT grants.

As of now, by championing thousands of supporters and working with local government, RiverLink has contributed several popular parks and greenway extensions to The Wilma Dykeman Riverway Plan. The most notable of these achievements include the old Asheville Speedway – the most-used park in the region now known as Carrier Park – and the French Broad River Park & Greenway System. Asheville’s greenway system currently boasts 4.5 contiguous miles.

History
Starting in the early to mid 1800’s, the riverfront’s even ground and untainted open-space made it the popular trade route. Soon farmers, homesteads, inns, and local small stores were drawn to take advantage of the economic opportunity. In the late 1800’s the railway expanded along the French broad and the banks land value accumulated. The rivers natural attributes drew crowds and Asheville grew to be a small and economically adorned city. (RiverLink, RiverLink-History, 2010)

By the very early 1900’s Asheville’s extent of the French Broad Riverfront had matured as the destination point for travelers and was a pivotal recreational and leisure space for residents. The Asheville Electric Company created a small diversion off of the French Broad and named it Riverside Park. The park erected a carousel, a boat house and an outdoor movie screen that could only be viewed from a boat in the river. At the time, this type of entertainment was not only unique but it left an impression. Unfortunately, in 1915 a fire destroyed much of Riverside Park and just the following year came the flood. (RiverLink, RiverLink-History, 2010)

In 1916 massive flooding not only destroyed whatever remained of Riverview Park but it swept away the watershed community. The many local industry and business owners – who for years had thrived along the French Broad River - abandoned their buildings and relocated to higher ground. Soon after the flood, Asheville’s traffic system experienced rapid growth and new highways and roads cut off access points to the river. Overtime, the French Broad was transformed into a dumping ground for unregulated pollution and the river was forgotten. (Hendler-Voss, 2010)

For over the next half a century the French Broad River was abandoned and neglected. It was not until the 1970’s when the Federal Government began to give attention to the deteriorating state or our nation’s river-systems and passed “The Clean Water Act”. Under this new policy environmental regulation standards were raised and public interests were heightened. Citizen groups began to look at the river and the Land-of-Sky (LOS) Regional Council assembled a group of conservation advocates, called The French Broad River Foundation (FBRF), to help create a series of access parks along the 117 miles of the French Broad River. (RiverLink, RiverLink-History, 2010)

In the 1980’s, as efforts to clean up the river intensified with citizen advocacy groups like the FBRF, policy makers came to finally see what critical importance The French Broad River was to the region. For one, local economists began to recognize the riverfronts massive recreational and economic development potential. Also however, through a series of management studies and evaluations by the LOS and local government agencies, it was determined that in order for the region to grow, the French Broad would have to be Buncombe County’s primary water source. (RiverLink, RiverLink-History, 2010)

By advocating to regional policy analysts, politicians, and local agencies, conservation groups and economists had now set the agenda to develop and redevelop the French Broad’s riverfront. In 1987 the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Land of Sky (LOS) managed to attain funding through a civil works planning grant. It was at this time that RiverLink, then a loosely knit group of volunteers and conservation advocates known as the French Broad Riverfront Planning Commission, were asked to team up with the French Broad River Foundation and Asheville’s Chamber of Commerce to create The Asheville Riverfront Plan. (RiverLink, RiverLink-History, 2010)