For years, heavy rain caused problems at Erskine Apartments. Stormwater flowed across a parking area, sometimes freezing in the winter and making it difficult for residents to safely get to their cars. The runoff also carried pollutants from the pavement into nearby Nasty Branch.
In 2020, the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville (HACA) partnered with RiverLink, an Asheville-based nonprofit that works to protect the French Broad River and its watershed, to tackle the stormwater issues in a way that would benefit both residents and the environment.
“We saw an opportunity to collaborate on a solution that would solve the parking lot runoff issue and help protect Nasty Branch,” says Eli Smith, watershed program specialist with RiverLink.
Residents Help Shape the Solution
Before construction began, RiverLink staff went door to door and set up tables at Herb Watts Park to ask residents what they wanted to see in the space.
They heard plenty of ideas. Residents wanted better walking paths, a shaded place to gather, edible fruit trees, and a memorial garden honoring loved ones lost to violence. They also wanted to see a chain-link fence that divided the property removed.
“Our residents deserve communities that feel cared for,” says HACA President and CEO Ella Santos. “That means listening to what matters to them and finding partners who can help us turn those needs into meaningful improvements.”
Those ideas helped shape the improvements completed in 2023. RiverLink replaced a 600-foot concrete drainage ditch with a more natural system designed to slow down and absorb rainwater. It includes a feature that looks and functions much like a natural streambed, along with rain gardens and a large wetland.
Beyond managing stormwater, the improvements have made the area greener and more inviting. Trees and native plants provide shade and greenery, while walking paths and gathering spaces give neighbors more places to spend time outdoors and connect with one another.
A Partnership That Endures
The work didn’t end when construction wrapped up. RiverLink continues to care for the green infrastructure and hosts public volunteer workdays at Erskine about once a month. The organization has also held events where young residents can learn more about the plants and wildlife in their own neighborhood.
The partnership is growing in other ways, too. In 2026, RiverLink received grant funding to provide rain barrels to Southside public housing residents through the Southside Community Farm home garden program. The barrels give residents a way to collect rainwater for their gardens and can also serve as a source of non-potable water during emergencies.
For Santos, the work at Erskine is a reminder of how much can happen when organizations bring different strengths to the table and take the time to listen to residents.
“We can’t build strong communities by ourselves,” Santos says. “RiverLink brought expertise that helped us solve a real problem, and they took the time to listen to residents and understand what mattered to them. That’s what good partnership looks like, and it’s the kind of work we want to continue across HACA communities.”
