America in Bloom Henderson County, NC

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

Henderson County, NC

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CONTENTSFlat Rock....................................... 17Henderson County ....................... 3Hendersonville ............................ 10Laurel Park .................................. 24Mills River .................................... 32

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HENDERSON COUNTYNorth Carolina

The county of Henderson is called a typical mountain county, because it consists of these elements: mountain ranges, isolated peaks, a rolling plateau and level valley areas. Elevations range from 1400 feet near Bat Cave at the

foot of the Blue Ridge, to 5000 feet on Little Pisgah.

CONTENTS

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Introduction to Henderson CountyHenderson County was part of the Cherokee Nation for 10,000 years. After treaties with the Cherokee in 1777 and 1785, the land was officially opened for settlement by early Appala-chian Mountain pioneers. Early land grants date back to 1777, with most occurring after the Revolutionary War in 1783 and 1785. Early settlers included Revolutionary War Patriots, such as Andrew Miller, Matthew Maybin and Joseph Henry, along with many others. Some Tories, such as William Mills, also settled in the county in the 1780s.

Henderson county was named for Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, Judge Leonard Henderson who died in 1833, five years before the county was created. Henderson County

was created from Old Buncombe County and Rutherford County. Hendersonville received its original charter in the 1840’s with a population of several hundred people.

Henderson County is located on a intermountain plateau and is almost circled by mountains. To the west, the county touches the Pisgah Ledge, and to the east and south borders the Blue Ridge and Saluda Moun-tains. The county is bordered on the north side by Buncombe county, to the east by Rutherford and Polk counties, to the west by Transylvania county and to the south by South Carolina.

The first source of revenue was agriculture for the people of Henderson County. The settlers grew corn, wheat, rye, potatoes and cabbage. As the self-sustaining pioneer settlers entered the county, they brought fruit trees with them.

2014 PARTICIPANTINFORMATION

County Population: .......................... 108,340Website: www.hendersoncountync.org

Contact Name: Charles Messer, County Commision Chairman

Area in Square Miles: ..............................375

Active Recreation

The county maintains eight parks: Jackson Park, Etowah Park, Westfeldt, Edneyville Community Center & Park, East Flat Rock Park, Dana Park, Edneyville Park and the

Athletics & Activity Center. Jackson Park is one of the largest county maintained parks in Western North Carolina - and host nu-

merous events and activities.

Both Henderson County and the City of Hendersonville maintain the Oklawaha Gre-enway Trail, spanning from two of the more

prominent parks in the county.

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Landscaped Areas– Designed Tree, Shrub, Turf, and Perennial Plantings

Jackson ParkEstablished in 1974, Jackson Park is located conveniently near downtown Hendersonville, and covers 212 acres in Henderson County. The parks’ facilities include 4 picnic shelters, 9 baseball fields, multi-purpose fields for soccer and events, 8 tennis courts, playgrounds, and many walking trails, providing a central location for many community sports and activities. The park is home to many species of birds, wildlife, and plants, making the park a great place to observe nature.

Bullington GardensBullington Gardens is a 12 acre, nonprofit horticultural education center offering programs, activities and workshops. Visitors are welcome to visit and stroll the grounds and enjoy the gardens which include a therapy garden, shade garden, butterfly garden, perennial borders, native woodland garden, pumpkin patch and herb garden. The grounds also include a half-mile nature trail through the wooded area of the gardens.

Throughout the year, Bullington hosts a variety of programs for school groups as well as a program for special needs high school students. Adult horticultural programs offered include basic gardening, landscape design, and others. Plant sales featuring a wide variety of perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees are held several times each year to support the educational programs.

It is a nonprofit horticultural education center offering programs, activities and workshops. The Center features a public botanical garden with individual herb, butterfly, mountain habitat, and perennial border gardens.

Urban Forestry Henderson County Extension Apple Variety BlockThe Henderson County Apple Variety Block is a planting of tree fruits located on land provided by a local apple producer. Extension Master Pomologist volunteers manage all aspects of the production, harvesting and post-harvest evaluation of over 100 new tree fruit varieties. The results of the findings are published in the Apple Production Newsletter. When asked how much knowledge current apple growers had gained from the demonstration, 75% of the growers responded “much” or “very much” and 92% of the growers found the work “very useful” in helping them decide what new varieties to plant.

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Environmental Effort –Sustainable Development and Awareness

Bountiful Harvest Community GardenBountiful Harvest Community Garden is a community garden within Jackson Park in Hen-dersonville, NC that follows the USDA’s recommendations for organic production. The garden has approximately 30 plots available for the residents of Henderson County. It is nur-tured and facilitated by Extension Master Gardener Volunteers through the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center. The plot holders and volunteers harvest rainwater, compost, follow integrated pest management practices, and are in the process of building a passively heated greenhouse.

Extension Pesticide Collection DayMany household products are potentially hazardous to our environment if disposed of improperly. To help reduce the dangers, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Hender-son County Center, in cooperation with NCDA&CS’ Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program (PDAP), worked together to provide a pesticide collection day for Henderson County. In the last 3 years, more than 9,000 lbs. of material was collected! Some of the chemicals collected were: DDT, Lead Arsenic, chlordane, and 2,4,5-T “Agent Orange”. The consumer service pro-gram provides a good environmentally safe method for disposing of unwanted materials, insuring they are not dumped in our landfills.

Heritage –Preserving Your Past for Future Generations

Henderson County Heritage MuseumThe Henderson County Heritage Museum brings history alive as the story of Henderson County is told.The Museum is housed in the Historic Henderson County Courthouse on Main Street. It offers public displays, artifacts, lectures, collections, archives, libraries, demon-strations, and other similar exhibitions relating to the history, culture, heritage and story of the founding settlement and development of Henderson County. The museum celebrates veterans of all wars, and has an especially informative Civil War Display. Current theme is the county’s Golden Age, which began with the coming of the train in 1879. Of special inter-est is an expansive diorama of the Saluda Grade, from Melrose to Hendersonville.

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Historic Henderson County Courthouse The Historic Henderson County Courthouse, (1905) was designed by Richard Sharp Smith, the supervising architect of Biltmore House.The Historic Henderson County Courthouse was built of brick in a neoclassical revival style featuring six Corinthian columns on the front and four columns for each of the two side porticos. On July 15, 1905, the keys were presented to the commissioners by W. F. Edwards, the contractor. The focal point of the Courthouse is atop of the copper dome, a 6-foot statue of “Lady Justice.” The statue is the Greek goddess Themis (“The Greek Goddess of Divine Justice and Law”) who is without a blindfold, holding a sword in her right hand and scales in her left. It is believed to be only one of only three in the United States without a blindfold, statues of Themis/Justice are blindfolded to typify that Justice should be impartial. The Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 10, 1979

Farm City DayRural farming methods of our ancestors are quickly forgotten in today’s Internet savvy world. Recent genera-tions of people can live a lifetime and never become ac-quainted with the life of a farmer. Each year on the first Saturday in October, the annual Farm City Day Festival is held in Henderson County, NC. North Carolina Coopera-tive Extension and Henderson County Parks and Recre-ation work together to coordinate and acquire sponsors for the one-day event. The festival is held to introduce life on a farm to the people in the city. This event is extremely popular and is attended by approximately 15,000 Western North Carolina residents. Farm City Day is an ongoing program reported to help residents become more aware, better informed, and more involved as our community changes and we stray from farming traditions.

Bullington GardensHenderson County is proud to be the home site for Bul-lington Gardens. Bullington Gardens was once a private residence owned by Bob Bullington. Upon his passing, the land was given back to the community, and is currently managed through a three-way partnership between the Henderson County Education Foundation, Henderson County Public School System, and the North Carolina Co-

operative Extension, Henderson County Center. John Murphy is the coordinator of Bulling-ton Gardens and is a certified Horticultural Therapist.

Bullington currently has a garden area specifically designed for horticultural therapy. This researched and thoughtfully designed enabling garden is a beautiful, peaceful spot and a

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source of healing to those with physical or mental limitations. The garden features increase gardening access to those who cannot garden at home.The garden features raised flowerbeds to allow gardening while being seated and wheelchair accessible beds. The newly constructed pavilion will be the site of programs and picnics. The adjacent water feature creates an atmosphere of serenity. This past year a wheelchair accessi-ble greenhouse was constructed with the help of many volunteers and community members. The greenhouse features in-floor heating, plant benches that can be lifted and lowered for wheelchair accessibility, a wide access door for easy access, a water source, and many other accessible features that make it the perfect addition for horticulture therapy. The greenhouse has quickly become one of the best and most useful additions to the property!

Floral Displays – Attracting Attention with Colorful Plants

Henderson County TourismDevelopment AuthorityThe Henderson County Visitor Center serves to assist travelers upon their arrival to Henderson County. The Visitors Center is open seven days a week to assist visitors by answering questions, giving maps & direc-tions, assisting with hotel reservations and offering travel, dining and entertainment information. The Cen-ter is stocked with Vacation Planners, maps, and area brochures. The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority operates the Visitor Center.

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Bountiful Harvest Community Garden Bountiful Harvest Community Garden is a community garden within Jackson Park in Hender-sonville, NC that follows the USDA’s recommendations for organic production. The garden has approximately 30 plots available for the residents of Henderson County. It is nurtured and facilitated by Extension Master Gardener Volunteers through the North Carolina Co-operative Extension, Henderson County Center. The plot holders and volunteers harvest rainwater, compost, follow integrated pest management practices, and are in the process of building a passively heated greenhouse.

ItineraryPlease see insert

ContactsCharles Messer,County Commissioner/Chairman [email protected] Owings, Henderson County Cooperative Extension, Director .......... (828) 697-4891Kerrie Roach, Henderson County Cooperative Extension, Agent .................. (828) 697-4891Beth Carden, Henderson County TDA, Director .................................................... (828) 693-9708Karen Baker, Henderson County TDA, Assistant Director..................................... (828) 693-9708

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HENDERSONVILLE,North Carolina

Historic Hendersonville is located in the Western North Carolina Mountains between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smokies, 22 miles south of Asheville, and

15 miles north of the North-South Carolina border. The elevation of Hendersonville is approximately 2,200 feet above sea level.

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Introduction to Historic HendersonvilleHendersonville, known for its gentle climate, beautiful scenery, richness in culture and history, and friendly people, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina on a plateau 2200 feet above sea level.

The City of Hendersonville received its charter from the North Carolina General Assembly and was officially recognized as the county seat of Henderson County on January 7, 1847. Having easy access from the lowlands, Hendersonville quickly became a vacation destination for tourists to spend the summer months escaping the sweltering heat in a milder, cooler climate. Hendersonville has been welcoming guests for more than a century, creating a strong tourism-based industry. Today’s economy is based on tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and retirement.

The City maintains nine active parks, other pocket parks and greenspaces throughout the City, a greenway, and Oakdale Cemetery. The parks offer a variety of recreation opportunities including a swimming pool, a skateboard park, ball fields, playgrounds, walking paths, and picnic areas. But the most popular site in Hendersonville is its historic downtown.

Hendersonville’s downtown features interesting architecture from the early twentieth century, delightful shops, museums, and locally-owned restaurants. Historic Downtown Hendersonville is a recognized Main Street Community and was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in March 1988. Using the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Four Point Approach, a Downtown Advisory Committee seeks to support and build upon downtown Hendersonville’s strengths. The Main Street Four Point approach includes Organization, Design, Economic Restructuring, and Promotions.

The serpentine Main Street features planted areas and boxes brimming with seasonal flowers and trees, tables and chairs for relaxing, and two water features. The Downtown hosts many activities throughout the year including art shows, an antique show, car shows, Garden Jubilee, Rhythm and Brews music series, the North Carolina Apple Festival, Music on Main, summer street dances, and parades. Museums on Main Street include the Henderson County Heritage Museum, Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium, Hands On! children’s museum, and the Gem and Mineral Museum.


City Population: ............................... 13,294Website: www.cityofhendersonville.orgContact Name: Mayor Barbara VolkArea in Square Miles: .........................7.14

Active Recreation:

The City maintains nine public parks including: Berkeley Park, Boyd Park, Dr. Martin Luther King Park, King Memori-al Park, Lenox Park, Patton Park, Pets’

Own Place on Seventh Avenue, Sullivan Park (Green Meadows), and Toms Park.

Both Henderson County and the City of Hendersonville maintain the Oklawaha Greenway Trail, spanning from two of

the more prominent parks in the county.

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Main Street Plantings Hendersonville contracts with a professional landscaping company to maintain numerous trees, planters, and other planting beds throughout the downtown district. Flowers are changed out three times a year with spring bulbs, summer annuals, and fall/winter pansies and other plants. During the Christmas season white lights are added to the trees.

Hanging Baskets Hanging baskets are used on major streets where it is not feasible to have ground plantings. These are in place from spring through fall on Church Street, the avenues off Main Street, and in the historic section of Seventh Avenue.

Garden Jubilee Each Memorial Day weekend the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority hosts over 200 vendors selling thousands of annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and hard to find plants on every block of the festival. There will be handmade lawn furniture, jewelry, garden tools, yard art, planters, wind chimes, birdhouses, as well as soaps, and pottery.

Garden Jubilee offers garden clinics, a plant sale, a hands-on kids clinic, beautiful yard displays and outdoor equipment. Nationally known lawn and garden product specialists will be offering free one-on-one advice.

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Landscaped Areas – Designed Tree, Shrub, Turf, and Perennial Plantings

Dogwoods on Fifth“Dogwoods on Fifth” is the first of many significant and comprehensive neighborhood-specific endeavors the Tree Board intends to pursue as part of a national movement called “NeighborWoods.” Dogwoods have been planted in the front yards of participating residents on Fifth Avenue West, who have expressed their enthusiasm and pride of the new trees. Each homeowner is responsible for the care of their dogwoods once they are planted.

Landscape AwardsThe Hendersonville Tree Board annually presents certificates and monetary awards to both residential and commercial property owners who beautify their yards with plantings.

Urban Forestry Hendersonville Tree BoardThe Tree Board consists of seven members who are residents of the City or extraterritorial jurisdiction or own property in the City. It is the responsibility of the Tree Board to study, investigate, counsel, develop and/or update annually and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas; publicly recognize individuals, business-es or organizations which exceed landscaping requirements; educate the public as to the economic and aesthetic benefits of trees and shrubs to Hendersonville and its citizens, both on publicly and privately-owned property; designate heritage trees; and maintain an official street tree species list.

Tree City USAHendersonville, NC is recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban for-estry. Hendersonville has earned this national designation for more than 20 years and has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. The city has a tree board, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive com-munity forestry program, and has an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

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HERITAGE TREE PROGRAMCITY OF HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Public Works DepartmentLast Updated: October 2010

F 0 1,000 2,000500Feet

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May 5, 1992

COMMON NAME:SCIENTIFIC NAME: Quercus alba

White Oak

DATE OF DESIGNATION:

LOCATION: 519 W Third AveOWNER: Michele & Skip Skeele

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September 8, 1997

COMMON NAME:SCIENTIFIC NAME: Platanus occidentalis

Sycamore


LOCATION: 832 W Forth AveOWNER: Margaret S. Thomas

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April 8, 1999


White Oak


LOCATION: Oakdale CemeteryOWNER: City of Hendersonville

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October 7, 1999


White Oak


LOCATION: 817 Hebron RoadOWNER: Wally & Lynn Hollis

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August 9, 1990

COMMON NAME:SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aesculus flava

Yellow Buckeye


LOCATION: HHS Oakland StreetOWNER: HHS

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June 7, 1990


White Oak


LOCATION: 203 N Justice HHAOWNER: Ken Garrett

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LOCATION: 334 W Third AveOWNER: Mary Jo Padgett

March 8, 1990

COMMON NAME:SCIENTIFIC NAME: Tsuga canadensis

Eastern Hemlock


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September 2, 2010

COMMON NAME:SCIENTIFIC NAME: Platanus occidentalis

Sycamore


LOCATION: 306 Spring StreetOWNER: Kaylyn Inman

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RecyclingHendersonville has a comprehensive recycling program for its residents and businesses.The City provides 64-gallon roll-out recycling containers to all residents and those businesses using City trash collection services. All recyclable materials—glass, metal and plastic—except-ing only Styrofoam, are collected curbside weekly. Materials are taken to Henderson County’s Convenience Center, from which they taken to a materials recycling facility. Hendersonville also collects yard waste and leaves and turns them into mulch, which is available for pur-chase for a nominal fee.

HeritagePreserving Your Past for Future Generations

North Carolina Apple FestivalHistoric Hendersonville is the official home of the Annual North Carolina Apple Festival, a four-day celebration in honor of the North Carolina Apple. The NC Apple Festival features a street fair on Historic Main Street including continuous live musical entertainment, arts & crafts, apple growers selling apple products, children’s & youth activities, special exhibits & open houses, food, and, to top it

all off, on Labor Day, the King Apple Parade. The festival is held annually, during the Labor Day weekend.

North Carolina is the 7th largest apple-producing state in the nation and Henderson County is the largest apple-producing county in North Carolina and grows 65 percent of the apples in the state. Today Henderson County is home to approximately 200 apple growers. According to Henderson County Extension Service statistics, there are about 5000 acres of apple trees planted in Henderson County. The apple harvest season runs from late August to late October. The most widely grown apples are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty and Galas. In addition, a number of other varieties are harvested. Fresh apples, cider, produce and many other items may be purchased at one of the many roadside apple markets or produce stands located throughout Henderson County. Some orchards offer tours and allow you to pick your own apples. Enjoy a self-guided driving to tour into the heart of scenic apple country.

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The Henderson County Curb MarketThe Curb Market is a unique farmers market requiring sellers to be residents of Henderson County. All items sold at the market must be either handmade or locally grown. The sellers are third- and fourth-generation vendors offering a variety of goods such as crafts, baked goods, jellies, plants, flowers, toys, and produce. The market has been in continuous operation since 1924. The Curb Market hosts three annual events, two Ol’ Timey Days and the Ol’ Timey Christmas Open House.

Historic Preservation CommissionThe historical heritage of the City of Hendersonville is a treasured asset enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The Mayor and Council recognize the role that historic properties play in that heritage, and believe that the conservation of historic properties stabilizes and increases property values and strengthens the overall economy of the City. The Historic Preservation Commission oversees the safeguarding of the City’s heritage by preserving property that embodies important elements of its culture, history, architectural history or prehistory; identifies properties which are of special historical significance and which possess integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and/or association, and to designate such as historic landmarks and districts; and promotes the use and conservation of such landmarks and districts for the education, pleasure and enrichment of the residents of the city, county, and state as a whole.

Historic Districts and BuildingsHendersonville has seven designated historic districts, three of those on the National Register. The City’s Oakdale Cemetery is also on the National Register. Established in 1885 by the city commission and surrounded by historic residential neighborhoods, the cemetery encompasses 20.8 acres located to the south of Sixth Avenue West. The cemetery contains approximately 5,400 marked graves with a wide range of monument types as well as an octagonal pavilion that appears to date from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The most well-known feature of the cemetery is Thomas Wolfe’s angel. Author Thomas Wolfe’s first novel was Look Homeward, Angel. In the book there are constant references to an angel statue carved from Italian marble. Thomas Wolfe’s father, W.O. Wolfe, sold the statue to the Johnson family to mark the family plot in Oakdale Cemetery.

There are approximately a dozen individual historic buildings outside these districts which are local landmarks and/or on the National Register. Two buildings of particular significance to the community are the Historic Henderson County Courthouse and the City Hall. The Historic Courthouse was designed in 1905 by Richard Sharp Smith, the supervising architect of Biltmore House. The focal point of the Courthouse is atop the copper dome: a 6-foot statue of “Lady Justice.” The statue is the Greek goddess Themis, goddess of divine justice and law, who is without a blindfold, holding a sword in her right hand and scales in her left. It is believed to be one of only three in the United States without a blindfold. City Hall

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was constructed in 1928 from plans by noted architect Erle Stillwell. Renovations in 2005 maintained the original character of the building, both inside and out. The building contains photographs of all but one of the City’s mayors since its establishment in 1847. It also houses the plaster models which were used for making the molds to cast the bronze statues unveiled on capital square in Raleigh on October 9, 1948, as a memorial to the three United States Presidents from North Carolina—Andrew Jackson, James Knox Polk, and Andrew Johnson. The wooden rails in front of the statue were the original rails from the courtroom at City Hall when Mayor’s Court was held here.

Best IdeaHendersonville’s major project in 2013 was the completion of infrastructure renovations on Main Street. In the late 1970s Hendersonville’s Main Street was changed from a wide four-lane configuration to a serpentine pattern. In the 30+ years since that transformation, some of the original features became outdated, storm drains were failing, electrical outlets retrofitted for street festivals were unsafe, and some street trees were dying. These problems led to plans for a complete renovation in phases of two blocks each over three years. The work of tearing up the streets and sidewalks was painful for visitors and merchants alike and the City received some requests to postpone the final phase. However, after much thought, the City Council determined to go ahead and finish the project. The final result has exceeded all expectations. Although common themes run the entire length, each block has its own personality. The final result is a downtown which everyone can enjoy and be proud of.

ContactsBarbara Volk, City of Hendersonville/Mayor [email protected] Freeman / Hendersonville, AIB Coordinator .................................................... 828-768-4413


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VILLAGE OF FLAT ROCKNorth Carolina

Established in 1807, the community of Flat Rock began when affluent Charlestonians, Europeans and prominent plantation owners of South Carolina’s low country built large summer estates. These families came to Flat Rock to escape the sweltering heat and the epidemic of yellow fever and malaria. The Low Country gentry affectionately called Flat

Rock “The Little Charleston of the Mountains.”

The entire district of Flat Rock is included in the National Register of Historic Places and strives to preserve the feeling of the Old South.

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Flat Rock Playhouse GardensThe beautiful gardens at Flat Rock Playhouse represent collaboration between the Playhouse and the Henderson County Master Gardeners. A redesign of the gardens began in 2008 and today the gardens are a shining example of Master Gardener Program’s hard work. Master Gar-deners have shared plants from their own gardens and called upon friends for donations. Some Playhouse staff have also donat-ed plants from their own yards to be used in the design. Founded in 1952, the Flat Rock Playhouse, a State Theater of North Carolina, is considered one of the “Top Ten Playhouses in the Country.”


In March 2005, the Village of Flat Rock moved into its new offices consisting of a newly ren-ovated historic house with an attached, modern assembly hall to the rear. The significance

of the historic house is its association with the post office and postmasters of Flat Rock. Known as the Stradley-Jones house, the house was originally constructed ca. 1845 by Pe-ter Stradley, a Baptist minister, blacksmith and storekeeper who was one of Flat Rock’s early postmasters, a position he held from 1845 until 1866. The land and buildings where the Flat Rock Village Hall is now located were acquired by the Village from Historic Flat Rock, Inc., in October 2003. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, the Village was permitted to renovate the house for use as an office

building, relocate or demolish outbuildings on the property, and construct on the property behind the house an accessory building having a footprint of


Population: ..........................................3,127Area in Square Miles: ........................... 7.9Municipal Budget.......................$2,018,58Parks Budget ................................$802,146

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Urban Forestry The Park at Flat Rock Park The Park at Flat Rock was acquired by the Village in the fall of 2013. Originally, an 18-hole golf course, the Park is currently under restoration. When complete, the 64-acre park will include a 1.5-mile perimeter loop and an additional 1.3 miles of secondary trails. Additional phases of park amenities will include picnic and pavilion areas, children’s playgrounds, and an outdoor amphithe-ater.

The long term master plan for the 66-acre Park at Flat Rock will involve converting meadows, streams and wetlands into trails, playgrounds, and open spaces for the public to enjoy. Initial priorities include the completion of a 1.5-mile perimeter trail, installation of benches, restrooms, and a picnic pavilion. Future amenities may include a new entrance and parking lot, playgrounds, dog park as well as an interpretative area in the wetlands as an educational component.

The Village Council bought the old Highland Lake Golf Club course for $1.15 million last year. It has a long-range master plan that includes restrooms, playgrounds, reforestation, landscaping, pavilions and trails.

The council voted to impose a one-year moratorium on construction work that is not yet under way in the works, which would mean the village would complete the 1.3-mile perimeter walking trail and the restrooms in the clubhouse.

up to 3,000 square feet. To preserve the view of the house and its expansive front and side yards from the Greenville Highway, the major thoroughfare through Flat Rock, a covenant included in the purchase contract provided that no physical or structural change could be made to the exterior of the house without the prior approval of the seller. The lawn surrounding the building was appropriately landscaped with meandering brick sidewalks and indigenous trees and shrubbery to complement the existing trees and vege-tation on the property.In addition to its use for the conduct of the Village’s day to day business, the hall is used as a central meeting place for a variety of nonprofit organizations in the community.’’

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The Park: Purchase of the park to protect open space in Flat Rock in perpetuity. Worked in cooperation with the Highland Golf Villas HOA to do stream restoration proj-ect in park, due to stream bank erosion. Future plans for the park include a reforestation project, stream restoration along King Creek and Dye Creek, protection of wetlands areas of the Park.

Other Environmental Efforts

Village promotes the county recycling program through articles in the village newsletter and providing brochures to the public.

Village sponsors Shred Day twice per year. Last Shred Day was May 31 and 4580 lbs of paper was shredded.

Village sidewalk program. The Village has completed a number of sidewalks near the core of the village center to promote pedestrian traffic

Village developed a flood damage prevention ordinance, the purpose of which is to pro-mote public safety and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions and to control filling, grading, dredging and other development that may increase erosion or flood damage.

Village developed a land use development permit which limits steep slope development, establishes regulations to prevent storm water runoff and erosion.

Coordination of Community Volunteers:

Judy Boleman coordinates volunteers for the Village of Flat Rock: 828-697-8100, [email protected]).

Ginger Brown with The Park Development Advisory Board will coordinate a volunteer program in the Park: (828-698-3465, [email protected].

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Heritage Preserving Your Past for Future Generations

Carl Sandburg Historic Home and Park Carl Sandburg, American poet and lecturer, moved to Flat Rock, North Carolina, in 1945 where he spent the final 22 years of his life where he continued to write and lecture, pub-lishing more than one-third of his works at his antebellum home Connemara (circa 1838). The National Park Service manages the 264-acre historic site which includes Connemara which houses 10,000 of Sandburg’s books, notes and papers. The site also includes nu-merous hiking trails, a working farm and a 1900s dairy goat barn. The rolling pastures, mountainside woods, trails, and historic gardens are preserved to reflect the landscape the Sandburg’s enjoyed.

St. John in the Wilderness Built as a private chapel in 1833, St. John offers a unique perspective of Flat Rock’s first families. Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, many well-known members of southern aristocracy have family plots in the churchyard associated with the Confederacy and family members of three signers of the Declaration of Independence. Quilt Trail A 4x4 quilt block featuring the Masks of Comedy and Tragedy, designed by nationally known quilter Georgia Bonesteel of Flat Rock and graphic designer Martin Webster of Burns-ville, was recently unveiled outside the Flat Rock Playhouse. The quilt block is the first block installed and is the start of what the WNC Quilters Guild hopes will be a countywide Quilt Trail. The Tourism Development Authority has partnered with the WNC Quilters Guild to put up quilt blocks throughout the county and create a Quilt Trail focusing on history, heritage and love of the land. Organizers envision the artwork on barns and apple sheds, at wineries and on other large outdoor walls.

Carl Sandburg Historic Home St. John in the Wilderness Quilt Trail21

Best IdeaThe Park at Flat Rock Park The Park at Flat Rock was acquired by the Village in the fall of 2013. Originally, an 18-hole golf course, the Park is currently under restoration. When complete, the 64-acre park will include a 1.5-mile perimeter loop and an additional 1.3 miles of secondary trails. Additional phases of park amenities will include picnic and pavilion areas, children’s playgrounds, and an outdoor amphitheater.

The long term master plan for the 66-acre Park at Flat Rock will involve converting mead-ows, streams and wetlands into trails, playgrounds, and open spaces for the public to enjoy. Initial priorities include the completion of a 1.5-mile perimeter trail, installation of benches, restrooms, and a picnic pavilion. Future amenities may include a new entrance and parking lot, playgrounds, dog park as well as an interpretative area in the wetlands as an educational component.

The Village Council bought the old Highland Lake Golf Club course for $1.15 million last year. It has a long-range master plan that includes restrooms, playgrounds, reforestation, landscaping, pavilions and trails.

The council voted to impose a one-year morato-rium on construction work that is not yet under way in the works, which would mean the village would complete the 1.3-mile perimeter walking trail and the restrooms in the clubhouse.

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ItineraryOur Mission: To continue existing development patterns within the Village that will protect the historic landmarks, natural and cultural resources, scenic byways and open spaces and promote the safety and general welfare of the residents. To be known for our friendliness and hospitality, our cultural and historical attractions and our safe pedestrian walkways and trails, and as a community that encourages the arts.

Please see insert for detailed intinerary

Bob Staton, Mayor ....................................................................................................... (828) 697-8100Wendy Beville, Flat Rock AIB Coordinator ............................................................. (828) 337-7825Cam Boyd, Tour Guide .............................................................................................. (828) 699-0799

Contacts

110 Village Center DriveFlat Rock, NC 28731

Phone - 828-697-8100Fax - 828-697-8461

Website - flatrocknc.govoffice3.com

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Town of Laurel Park, North Carolina

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Introduction to Laurel ParkIn 1888, W.A. Smith, a prominent lawyer and civic leader in Hendersonville purchased a 350 acre tract of land on Echo Mountain. He believed that the economic future of Hendersonville and Henderson County depended upon attracting summer visitors and went about developing Laurel Park to entertain these visitors. Initially, Laurel Park was a nearby natural recreation area accessed by horse and buggy from Hendersonville, which made a visit an all-day adventure. By 1902, a streetcar rail line (called the “Dummy” because it had to back up to return to Main Street) had been constructed out Fifth Avenue from Hendersonville to Laurel Park bringing day-trippers and summer visitors to Rainbow Lake, Crystal Spring and the nature trails. In 1909, W.A. Smith further enhanced his park by adding a second lake, called Rhododendron Lake and a canal to connect Rainbow and Rhododendron Lakes. He also installed a counter-balance railway to take visitors to the Park Heights observation tower overlooking Hendersonville and the distant mountains. Visitors to Hendersonville and Laurel Park could now enjoy swimming, boating, dancing and other recreational pursuits. According to the local paper, in the summer of 1913, over 100,000 visitors came to Laurel Park. With over 10 miles of roads and trails, visitors could access the following recreational and scenic areas in Laurel Park:

The Dummy Line transportation to and from HendersonvilleCrystal Spring natural spring noted for its pure waterRainbow Lake casino, boating, dancingRhododendron Lake dancing, swimming, Park Heights Tower observation towerCascade Falls 400 feet of natural fallsThe Canal gondola ride between Rhododendron and Rainbow lakesBaseball Field women’s and men’s summer baseball league’sJump Off Rock

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There were also horse shows, auto shows and fair grounds. Visits to Jump Off Rock were available at this time but from an access road on the Davis Mountain Toll Road built by the Davis family in 1907.

Beginning in 1914, W.A. Smith established a housing subdivision in Laurel Park to “satisfy the insistent demand for home sites in this beautiful spot”. That demand continued to grow through subsequent years with a significant expansion in the size of Town, which reached its peak by 1926. A real estate bubble had developed in Hendersonville and South Florida

that began to collapse in 1926. With the crash of the stock market in 1929 and collapse of the general economy in the 1930’s, the Town slowly transformed from a summer recreational resort to a town noted for its year-round scenic beauty and excellent climate. The 1930 census indicated 127 year round residents. In the post war years, the population of Laurel Park renewed its growth rate, increasing to 302 residents by 1950. Between the years, 1930 and 1980, resident population growth averaged 4.4 percent per year. From 1980 to 1990, the community experienced a much higher level of annual growth, averaging 7.3 percent. The current resident rate of growth is around 5.3 percent leading to a July 2012 population of 2180.


Population: ..........................................2,189Website: ....................www.laurelpark.orgContact: Carey O’Cain – MayorAIB Committee Chair: Carol ElliottArea in Square Miles: ........................ 2.87Acres of Active Recreation: ........................Laurel Green Park ...................... 4.1 acres (Children’s park, walking trail)

Acres of Passive Recreation:

Jump Off Rock Park, Rhododendron Lake Park, Crystal Spring – 24 acres

Volunteer Coordinator ...........Bonnie See

The Dummy Line Rhododendron Lake

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Volunteer organizations work on several entrances in and around Laurel Park such as the main entrance to town on the Laurel Park Highway and at several areas on the way up the mountain. The Hebron Road water tanks; the Timber Creek subdivision entrance; and the Sky Village subdivision entrance.

Jump Off RockJump Off Rock is a scenic overlook which provides a panoramic view of rolling pastures, the Blue Ridge and Pisgah mountain ranges. Jump Off Rock also holds an Indian legend that has been passed down for many, many years. Over 300 years ago a young Cherokee Indian maiden

received word that her young Indian Chief had been killed in battle, so she climbed to the edge of the rock and jumped off. Indian legend has it that on moonlit nights you can see the ghost of the maiden on Jump Off Rock. Jump Off is located about 5 miles from downtown at the end of Laurel Park Hwy. The park is open daily, sunrise to sunset. No admission charge.

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The Laurel Green ParkThe Laurel Green Park at the entrance to the Town is a planned park that has adjacent stream confluences as boundaries. In 1993 community volunteers developed the park plan with assistance from a landscape architect and other specialists. The plan utilizes material that blooms throughout the year employing various native and introduced species.

In 2012, the Town started a project called Rhododendron Lake Park. This park has just com-pleted Phase I of a three-phase effort. An environmental engineering firm and landscape architect designed this phase to incorporate all native species of trees and shrubs through-out the 3.1-acre conservation easement along the stream. A volunteer group of Laurel Park residents visited area nurseries to select the plan specific trees and planted these 150 trees and shrubs in the fall of 2013.

Urban Forestry Greenways BoardIn 2007, the Town established the Laurel Park Parks and Greenways Board. The mission of the board is to “promote for the specific benefit of the Laurel Park community, the expan-sion, preservation, protection, and balanced use of open space, parks, and natural resources within the town”. In December of 2011, the Laurel Park Town Council adopted the 2011 Parks and Greenways Comprehensive Plan which was created by this board.

In this first plan for the town, the Parks and Greenways Board developed the following objectives:

Enhance and preserve existing parks and open spaces within the community. Identify and coordinate the balanced development of new parks, trails and open spaces. Investigate opportunities to acquire properties for parks, and greenways use. Explore areas of cooperation with civic groups,

government agencies, industry, and public utilities. Consider possible future acquisitions and/or

protections for significant sites within the community.

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Rhododendron Lake

Phase II of the Rhododendron Lake Park project will focus on: Restoring the lake inlet stream and the construction of a sedimentation trap on the secondary stream; The de-silting and deepening of the lake to lower and stabilize the water temperatures into and

out of the lake. This is to assure appropriate cold water releases downstream; The creation of BMP riparian buffers adjacent to the streams and lake; The establishment of a modest wetlands to advance microhabitats including a fish and small

wildlife sanctuaries; The construction of a boardwalk separating a new wetland area from the lake to provide an

educational scene for aquatic ecosystem awareness supported by suitably placed story boards; Acquisition of .66 acres of property adjacent to the existing site with the goal of restoring and

enhancing an additional 360 lineal feet of stream. Create additional greenways in the park that will also be connected by a planned trail to the

existing Laurel Green Park. This will add to the existing trail system that utilizes established parks and low traffic volume town roads.

Establish educational programs and cooperative community efforts highlighting the impact these projects have on the town’s environment and quality of life.

Introducing a trout habitat with the support of the local Trout Unlimited chapter.


Historical Features

The Town of Laurel Park, in conjunction with the Laurel Park Civic Association has been actively involved in identifying and preserving the historical features of Laurel Park.

In 2010, the first historical marker was erected nearby the site of the planned Fleetwood Hotel, which was partially built but never completed due to the real estate bubble that burst in 1926. This marker was followed by Crystal Spring, the Reservoir and Cascade Falls (site of Hendersonville’s original water source), Woodlawn (the oldest standing house in Laurel Park), Canal Park (site of the canal between Rainbow and Rhododendron Lakes), Echo Inn, and Jump Off Rock. Others are planned at a rate of about 2 per year.Additionally, the Laurel Park Civic Association has held presentations for the community by local historians on the interesting historical stories of Laurel Park.

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Best IdeaThe Town of Laurel Park developed a three-phase master plan to create a 10-acre nature park encompassing the old Rhododendron lakebed property as well as recently purchased adjacent parcels. Phase I of the project restored and enhanced approximately 1,320 linear feet of the primary stream channel along an unnamed tributary of Wash Creek in Laurel Park. This phase of the project addressed the prior channelization issues and achieved the restoration objectives of improving bank stability, enhancing aquatic and terrestrial habitats, removing invasive exotic plant species, and establishing more robust and wider vegetative buffers.

In Phase II, the goal is to broaden the impact of improvements to water quality, storm water runoff, and wildlife habitat addressed in Phase I. This project will focus on:

Restoring the lake inlet stream and the construction of a sedimentation trap on the secondary stream;

The de-silting and deepening of the lake to lower and stabilize the water temperatures into and out of the lake. This is to assure appropriate cold water releases downstream;

The creation of BMP riparian buffers adjacent to the streams and lake; The establishment of a modest wetlands to advance microhabitats including a fish and

small wildlife sanctuaries; The construction of a boardwalk separating a new wetland area from the lake to provide

an educational scene for aquatic ecosystem awareness supported by suitably placed story boards;

Acquisition of .66 acres of property adjacent to the existing site with the goal of restoring and enhancing an additional 360 lineal feet of stream.

Create additional greenways in the park by connecting a planned trail to the existing Laurel Green Park. This

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Contacts

Carey O’Cain, Town of Laurel Park / Mayor ................................................mayor@laurelpark.orgAlison Melnikova, Town of Laurel Park / Town Manager [email protected] Banta, Town of Laurel Park / Parks & Greenways ........... [email protected] See, Laurel Park AIB Coordinator ................................................ [email protected] Elliott, AIB Coordinator .......................................................................................828-243-8226

will add to the existing trail system that utilizes established parks and low traffic volume town roads.

Establish educational programs and cooperative community efforts highlighting the impact these projects have on the town’s environment and quality of life.

Introducing a trout habitat with the support of the local Trout Unlimited chapter.

In Phase III, the plan is to add trees to the park, connecting trails throughout lowerLaurel Park, passive recreational amenities and environmentally friendly parking.

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MILLS RIVER,North Carolina

Mills River is a town located in Henderson County, North Carolina. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. It lies in the northwestern part of the county,

covering roughly 22 square miles, and located near Etowah and Fletcher.

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Introduction to Mills River

The Town of Mills River was incorporated in 2003. The Town is 22.5 square miles with a population of 6,897 people. Historically, the community was predominately agriculture and this remains a key cultural element to the Town. The past decade has seen growth for the Town including residential, commercial and industrial development for the Town while also continuing to have a strong agriculture presence. During that same time, the Town purchased property and built a town hall and library facility along with the first phase of the Town park.

Mills River Town Complex- The Town began development of the property in 2009 with construction of the first town hall and library building utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Soon after, the Town received a grant as part of the North Carolina Parks and Recre-ation Trust Fund that helped to begin Phase One of the park development. In June of 2012, The Town opened Phase I of development for the Mills River Park including a 0.4 acre multi-use trail, a dog park, picnic shelter, and playground. Future plans include ballfields, soccer fields, additional playground and picnic shelters, and utilizing the river frontage for fishing, tubing and kayaking. At this time, the rear fields remain in agriculture pending additional facilities.


Town Population: ................................6892Website: ....................www.millsriver.orgContact Name: ... Larry Freeman, Mayor Area in Square Miles: ......................22.41

Active Recreation

The town of Mills River Town ComplexWestfeldt Park

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Floral Displays –Attracting Attention with Colorful Plants

The Mills River Town Complex began development of the property in 2009 with construction of the first town hall and library building utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Soon after, the Town received a grant as part of the North Carolina Parks and Recre-ation Trust Fund that helped to begin Phase One of the park development. In June of 2012, The Town opened Phase I of development for the Mills River Park including a 0.4 acre multi-use trail, a dog park, picnic shelter, and playground. Future plans include ballfields, soccer fields, additional playground and picnic shelters, and utilizing the river frontage for fishing, tubing and kayaking. At this time, the rear fields remain in agriculture pending additional facilities.


Pond Retention ReservoirThe pond is a retention reservoir for the eighteen acres of existing and twenty acres of planned greenhouse roofs and other impervious surfaces. (No greenhouse water goes into the pond.) Once retained, the water is discharged into an unnamed tributary then into the Mills River. Originally, the pond was shal-low and offered no shading. These two factors contributed to the elevated water temperatures. Furthermore, the outlet structure released water from the top of the pond where the warmest water was present. The discharge was warm and contained pollutants that were eventu-ally released into the river. The project converted the pond into a storm-water wetland. The pond’s footprint was graded, shaped and planted with native vegetation to form a meandering channel through marsh areas and pools. The existing culvert outlet was replaced with a new structure that was designed to release cooler water from the bottom of the last pond over a two to three day period. This slow drawdown also allows the water pollutants to be removed by the wet-lands, enhances groundwater recharge, reduces flash flooding, reduces stream bank erosion and increases the general quality of the water as it released into the river.

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Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada announced Mills River as the location of their east coast brewery in early 2012 with plan to be the first to locate in the Ferncliff Industrial Park. The site currently hosts the facility to brew and distribute beer, but is now in the process of developing a pub and restaurant as well as an amphitheater. The company has been diligent about pre-serving the existing trees they can on site and chose the property partially because of it’s frontage on the French Broad River. They intend to include hiking trails and other outdoor sports as part of the site. They have also incorporated alternative energy and onsite water treatment in the development to protect the environmental purity of the property.


NCSU Mountain Crops Research StationThe Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center is located in the southern Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina. The Center strives to help the people of western North Carolina improve their lives by conducting applied research, and developing and implementing highly effective extension programs related to agriculture, the environ-ment, family, and community

Urban Forestry Westfeldt ParkWestfeldt Park is a county owned park located on the French Broad River that is popular for its access to the water and hiking trails.

ContactsLarry Freeman, Town of Mills River/Mayor ............................................................. (828) 890-2901Jamie Laughter, Town of Mills River/Town Manager .......................................... (828) 890-2901


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Henderson County, NC

ACKNOWLEDEMENTS

Chamber Of Commerce

City Of Hendersonville

Community Foundation

Carol E. Elliott

Dawn ‘Mia’ Freeman

Henderson County Tourism Development Authority

Hendersonville Lightning

Hendersonville Times News

Inn On Church

Land O’Sky Garden Club

Town Of Flat Rock

Town Of Laurel Park

Town Of Mills River

N.C. Cooperative Extension Service

WHKP

Vanwingerden International

Mayor Barbara Volk

Mayor Carey O’Cain

Mayor Larry Freeman

Mayor Robert Staton

City Manager, John Connet

Chairman Charles Messer, Henderson Co. Board of Commissioners

Firehouse Subs

Paul Hansen

Documents

America in Bloom Henderson County, NC