# Passive Recreation Lands Subcommittee Meeting **Body:** Buncombe County Government — Passive Recreation Lands Subcommittee **Date:** October 16, 2025 10:35 AM EDT (2025-10-16T10:35:23-04:00) **Link:** https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575 ## Summary On October 16, 2025, the Buncombe County Passive Recreation Lands Subcommittee convened to review updated funding proposals for the county’s $30 million Open Space Bond. The meeting focused on re-evaluating projects that were originally recommended in September 2024 but paused due to the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene. Staff members Rachel Sawyer and Angeline Johnson presented the current financial status of the bond and detailed the updated viability of the applications, noting that the subcommittee had to account for a year’s worth of changes and storm-related damage to the proposed sites. The subcommittee unanimously approved the minutes from the September 17, 2024 meeting. Staff provided an update on the bond’s financial health, clarifying that the funds represent debt financing rather than grants. Rachel Sawyer, Strategic Partnerships Director, highlighted the program’s financial stability and directed attendees to an online dashboard for transparency regarding fund allocation. The document provided indicates that of the $30,000,000 total bond amount, $17,533,670 is currently committed and $2,531,900 is anticipated, leaving a remaining balance of $9,934,430. The core of the meeting involved a detailed review of updated project proposals, with discussions centering on how Tropical Storm Helene and inflation had affected costs and timelines. The subcommittee reviewed five key projects: Balsam Gardens, Gateway Park, Haw Creek Park Greenway, Warren Wilson College Trails, and the Town of Black Mountain Ridgecrest Connector. Notable debates arose regarding the Town of Black Mountain Ridgecrest Connector, which faced challenges because the town could not fund the engineering design, leading to a discussion on whether to approve funding with stipulations or defer the project. Additionally, Allison Daines, Parks and Recreation Director, expressed a cautious perspective on some projects due to the county’s current focus on storm recovery and shifting priorities. Following the discussions, the subcommittee voted on funding recommendations for the following projects: * **Gateway Park:** Approved for $200,000. * **Haw Creek Park Greenway:** Approved for $67,584. * **Camp Greer’s Works Community Forest Trail Development:** Approved for $687,504. * **Town of Black Mountain Ridgecrest Connector:** Deferred, with a potential future application window. The subcommittee also unanimously recommended that the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners consider a second round of grant applications to utilize the remaining bond funds, recognizing that community priorities may have shifted since the initial application process. Kevin Connercote, Subcommittee Chair, emphasized the importance of responsible spending and aligning projects with community needs. No formal public comments were received during the meeting. Regarding next steps, staff member Rachel Sawyer agreed to work with the subcommittee to schedule a presentation of these recommendations before the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, tentatively on November 4th for briefing and November 18th for decision-making. Staff also agreed to communicate the outcomes of the funding decisions to all applicants, both successful and unsuccessful. The Buncombe County Commissioners will consider the subcommittee’s recommendations for funding and potentially establish the second round of grant applications. ## Agenda - [Approval of Minutes from September 17, 2024](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/24532) - [Current Status of Open Space Bond](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/24533) - [2025 Updated Proposals](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/24534) - [Discussion of Projects for Funding Consideration](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/24535) - [Vote on Funding Recommendations](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/24536) - [Next Steps for the Subcommittee](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/24537) - [Welcome & Roll Call](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/25308) - [Approval of Agenda for October 16, 2025](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/25309) - [Public Comment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/25310) - [Adjournment](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575/item/25311) ## Video & Transcript - Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96882KwD_s - Transcript: https://sunshinemeetings.org/transcript/176/segments ## Documents - [supporting_2025-10-16_3.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575?document=15741) - [supporting_2025-10-16.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575?document=15739) - [supporting_2025-10-16_4.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575?document=15743) - [supporting_2025-10-16_2.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575?document=15740) - [agenda_2025-10-16.pdf](https://sunshinemeetings.org/event/575?document=15742) ## Sources - [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q96882KwD_s)