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Interpretation & Signage |
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Asheville Urban Interpretive Trail
Asheville, North Carolina
The urban trail presents the story of this community and interprets its identity. The Asheville Urban Trail was conceived through an intensive charette process, as a linear interpretive trail revealing a series of "themes" with associated site-specific amenities. These trail features or "stations" celebrate areas of historic design and cultural significance and provide an interesting and informative experience for Asheville residents and visitors in the downtown area. The trail weaves together divergent areas of the downtown with visual cues and markers to arouse interest. Each station offers information and an opportunity to experience the history and culture of the community by playing roles ranging from passive audience to student to archaeologist.
A charette team assembled by the Urban Trail Committee, facilitated by Charles A. Birnbaum, FASLA, Associate of Heritage Landscapes, and comprised of local professionals and interested citizens, was formed to envision the trail, define circulation routes and develop associated interpretive stations. The process allowed for the integration of the trail with complimentary planning efforts and local initiatives underway in downtown Asheville. As a master-planning document, the Urban Trail provides a long-range vision for the City of Asheville, with guidelines and recommendations for the trail system allowing for continuing funding initiatives, both public and private, to facilitate future improvements of the trail. Asheville has continued to embellish the trail by adding a variety of three-dimensional elements and interpretive markers to the system.
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"Asheville has an identity crisis. Although many people come to Asheville, few learn of its fascinating story. As we seek to clarify who we are, we realize more and more that Asheville has potential for greatness."
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