Blowing Rock, NC: American Legion Site Conceptual Design

The most used pedestrian thoroughfares in Blowing Rock are the paths that connect Broyhill Park and adjacent parks with the downtown area. There are two sets of stairs that have worn down over the years, becoming dangerous for visitors. There is not an ADA-accessible route from Broyhill Park to the American Legion building. Further, pedestrian routes are poorly marked throughout the site and along Park Avenue, resulting in pedestrians walking in the middle of the road. The existing stairs behind the American Legion building have also been negatively affected by an erosion problem. Heavy silt deposits generated by multiple sources are adversely affecting Mayview Lake, which is fed by a North Carolina Trout Headwater. The erosion issue has led to the need of dredging Mayview Lake on a more frequent basis than normal and has begun to wash out portions of the stairs. The deteriorated state of the stairs has led, in part, to the creation of informal trails in less stable areas that add additional concern about safety and excessive erosion on the site. There was a great need to explore ways that the American Legion site can serve and function as a connector between popular destinations, but in a way that is safe for citizens and visitors. Further, there was a desire that future improvements reduce the negative impacts that poorly managed runoff has imposed on wildlife inhabiting Mayview Lake. The American Legion building site also needed a tree replacement plan for aesthetic improvements, pedestrian safety, run-off reduction, and to encourage greater species diversity among Blowing Rock’s tree population.