What is the future of Asheville's Walton Street Park and segregation-era pool?

ASHEVILLE - For more than 80 years, Walton Street Pool was a central fixture of the Southside community.

But lately, it's been at the center of a game of tug-of-war between residents and the city, with the future of the segregation-era pool uncertain after years of back and forth.

In August, a survey went out to the community-at-large, seeking feedback on a vision for Walton Street Park and the historic pool, which was closed last year, in large part due to costly mechanical and structural problems.

Previous coverage: 

• Asheville enters into $6.7 million contract for Grant Center expansion, plans include pool

• Asheville segregation-era Walton Street Pool to close after 83 years

Rather than renovate the Walton Street Pool, which officials in 2017 said would require at least $1.3 million to fix, the city proceeded with plans to construct a new pool at Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center about 0.2 mile from the park. It is expected to open next summer and is under construction.

Shuvonda Harper, a member of Southside Rising, said the nonprofit has been working closely with the city to build a vision of the future for Walton Street Park, collecting input, holding meetings and guiding the process alongside Asheville Parks and Recreation.

"We’re trying to get the community more involved in the space in a positive way," Harper said.

She acknowledged frustrations from community members that feel prior input went unheard but said the city has been more responsive this time around.

"(The city is) trying to follow the community’s lead, but we’re not getting enough of the community to reply," she said.

The survey is open through Sept. 11.

Asheville Parks and Recreation allocated $500,000 for the redevelopment of Walton Street Park, according to an Aug. 8 city news release.

Parallel to the plans for the redevelopment of the park, Southside Rising and the city are discussing ways to honor the historical significance of Walton Street Pool and pool house.

The pool was opened in the southwest corner of the park in 1948 and was the longest-serving public pool established for Asheville’s Black families and community members, filling a void left by the closure of Mountain Street Pool in the East End neighborhood around 1935.

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“The loss of the pool, it really hurts the community," Harper said. "But change happens. It’s not like it’s all lost, because we’re still trying to preserve that area,”

According to the city release, Southside residents indicated they wished to pursue designation on the National Register of Historic Places and as a Local Historic Landmark, and the option is being explored.

“Like Southside itself, Walton Street Park and Pool are enduring spaces and evolving examples of community pride and perseverance," said D. Tyrell McGirt, director of parks and recreation, in the Aug. 8 release.

"Asheville Parks and Recreation values the input of neighboring community groups, as well as those connected to the Walton Street Park and Pool history. The department will use that feedback to guide the investment efforts in updating these treasured spaces.”

Groundhog Day

Priscilla Ndiaye Robinson grew up going to the pool, like so many Southside residents, it's where she learned to swim and where she gathered — a meeting space for community reunions, cookouts, and parties.

She's been in the fight for more than a decade — and said in some ways, it feels like the neighborhood is in the same place it started: with community meetings, city surveys, a design process, "and now another survey," she said.

She has been among those calling for the Walton Street Pool to be saved, but as the new pool moves forward at the Grant Center, she is turning her attention to the preservation of the historic site and ensuring that all voices are heard.

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“We see you have the authority, you made your decision, you didn’t listen to the community through the petition, you didn’t even listen to your own surveys," Robinson said, addressing the city. "But we’re still open to sitting down at the table like we’re doing now, and seeing how we can work things out where they still can be a win, win situation."

Robinson said she was glad to see things moving forward — with new money allocated, and a survey available to the entire community.

"In some ways, it lets us know that the city is finally listening," she said.

But some are still skeptical of the city's intentions, like Robert Hardy, a lifelong Southside resident, who said the prior public engagement efforts were "ignored."

He was among those advocating for the pool to be rebuilt at its original site, which he said was the will of the community reflected in the original public surveys.

In moving forward with the pool at the Grant Center, Hardy said the city “disenfranchised and marginalized the vote of the community."

New ideas for Walton Street Park

Carol Smith-Hill's family has lived on South French Broad Avenue her entire life. While she said she was not originally contacted by the city seeking input, she was glad to see people paying attention to the issues and getting engaged.

Her vision of the pool and pool house is to see it revitalized and reused — potentially transformed into a covered, open-air stage with amphitheater seating. She also would like new playing fields, a refurbished picnic shelter and a new playground.

Harper echoed a desire to see the park used more effectively, and for the city to create a more inviting space that is an asset to the surrounding neighborhood.

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According to the city release, the most requested recreation features are picnic areas and a covered shelter, a basketball court, a multipurpose field, and asphalt surfaces for biking, skating, and walking.

"Similar to the recent redevelopment of Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center and Recreation Complex, enhancement of the recreation offerings may be a multi-year process as additional funds become available," the release said.

Robinson is strongly in support of obtaining a historic designation for the pool and pool house, ensuring that the city's Black history is not erased entirely.

“We just want to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself," Robinson said. "We’re trying to preserve what little history we have left.”

Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. 

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Southside's Walton Street Park to get renos; Asheville seeks input