For over a decade, neighbors in the East End/Valley Street neighborhood, have been asking for a public track to be added to their neighborhood park at Memorial Stadium. This neighborhood was one devastated by urban renewal, just one vestige of systemic racism that tore neighborhoods apart taking homes, land, and businesses from African American people and families in Asheville.  

For decades, African Americans in Asheville have seen promises made and then broken by the City. Asking for this track and seeing it put into the Asheville City Parks and Recreation plans in 2009 and drawn in 2012 only to see lack of funding erode that dream. Recently, the City of Asheville passed a Parks and Recreation bond. Hopes again rose only to see the plan for a track there get dropped to make improvements to the stadium to draw more tourists.  

It is time for the City to keep its promises. Access to safe spaces for recreation can impact health disparities for our African American community. Being able to have neighborhood access to a track means the ability to exercise which supports heart health, prevents diabetes, lowers blood pressure, and stress levels among many other health benefits.  

Renee White, President of the East End/Valley Street Neighborhood Association recently said, "How are you going to sit down and talk about reparations, when you are continuing to do harm in our Black neighborhoods and think that it’s OK? If you’re trying to help us, how are you going to help us and harm us at the same time?”

We ask you to join us as we support the East End/Valley Street Neighbors in calling on City Council to set aside American Rescue Plan funds to build the track and support our neighbors. This is a clear and concrete way to support racial and health equity.