Ashville parks committee outlines plan for accessible Miller Park and 15-acre Westside expansion

The Ashville Parks Committee met on June 11, 2026, and agreed to pursue design and funding work to remake Miller Park as an inclusive playground and to explore a roughly 15-acre expansion of Westside Park. The committee voted to approve its Feb. 20 minutes and set next steps that include cost estimates, neighbor outreach about lighting, and a follow-up meeting after the Fourth of July.

Committee members said an outside group called Accessible Parks intends to present to the committee and help solicit community input. Members repeatedly described the goal as an all-ages “0–99” park with features for people with special needs — accessible swings, benches and exercise stations, and an accessible surface — and said they would want an architect and CAD drawings before pursuing grants.

Members identified Miller Park as the initial site for a rip-and-replace effort to create the accessible playground. They discussed coordinating with a nearby school that is replacing equipment and noted that while reusing older school equipment is possible, the preference appears to be for rip-and-replace and for a larger footprint to accommodate swings and accessible surfacing. The committee emphasized the need for clear cost estimates and a portfolio of prioritized projects to strengthen grant applications.

The committee also discussed Westside Park, where roughly 15 acres north of the existing park (previously considered for a sewer plant) may be available for expansion. Ideas on the table include walking paths, additional courts and recreation areas, but members warned expansion carries ongoing maintenance costs and will require phased funding.

On funding, members talked about using impact fees, seeking grant leverage and identifying a conservative local match for grant applications. Several cost figures were cited as directional: a low-intensity lighting package was estimated at about $30,000 (approximate), a family restroom and related site work on Westside were discussed around a $150,000 directional figure, and members noted that larger build-outs could be substantially more expensive. The group agreed it needs a financial picture of available impact fees and prioritized project cost estimates before asking the full council for approval.

Neighbors near the basketball court would be consulted before installing lights; committee members proposed a shutoff time of 9 or 10 p.m. to limit late-night impacts. Members also discussed demand for a third pickleball court and lower-cost surface repairs such as repainting.

The committee agreed on practical next steps: assemble a portfolio of candidate projects, obtain directionally accurate cost estimates, begin resident outreach on lighting, and schedule a longer follow-up meeting after the Fourth of July. The committee plans to present its prioritized plan and cost numbers to the council for formal approval of impact-fee spending.

Action taken: the committee approved the Feb. 20, 2026 minutes. No ordinance or funding appropriation was approved at this meeting; the committee’s work will proceed to estimate and outreach phases before any council vote.