Last week, the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced NC Land and Water Fund grants totaling more than $45 million to protect our state’s land and wetlands. Through these grants, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) was awarded $4.37 million for the conservation of Deaverview Mountain, which is just outside Asheville’s city limits.
The 343-acre property was listen for sale in March. A “conservation-minded buyer” purchased the land and will hold it for three years to let SAHC work out a permanent conservation solution. Back in April, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to explore the creation of a public park on the summit of the mountain, and through SAHC’s partnership with Buncombe County, the park would be the largest in the county. The NC Land and Water Fund grant covers nearly half of the estimated project cost of $8.8 million .