Project Name: Blannahassett Island Engagement + Design
Location: Marshall, Madison County, NC
Type: Community-driven park visioning and resilience design
Status: Final planning phase
Partners: Town of Marshall, Marshall Parks and Recreation Board, and Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation and Development Council (MVRCD)
Timeline: March – August 2026
Why This Project Matters
Blannahassett Island is a central recreational and cultural hub for Marshall and the broader Madison County region. During Hurricane Helene, the island was fully submerged, leaving its park facilities inoperable and playground destroyed. As one of the few significant public green spaces in the area, its restoration is essential for community healing and long-term economic recovery.
Project Goals
Conceptual Master Plan: Develop a community-driven conceptual design for the public spaces on the island.
Phased Expansion: Plan for the potential addition of 1.3 acres to the park area if the town’s wastewater treatment plant is successfully relocated off the island. This will not be incorporated into the plans for another few years.
Flood Resilience: Identify legally permissible and flood-resilient recreational uses for the floodway.
Safety and Connectivity: Re-envision safe walking trails, play areas, and improved river access points.
Timeline
The project uses a robust, “listening-first” engagement strategy to ensure the final vision reflects local needs.
Stakeholder Engagement: Direct coordination with the Town Board, Parks + Recreation Board and local business owners.
Community Engagement Events:
April 19: Community Engagement #1/ Community Ideation + Brainstorm
Objectives:
Gain an understanding of what kinds of programs (or activities) the community is most interested in seeing / engaging with at Blannahassett Island.
Prioritize what belongs on the Island versus elsewhere.
Explore what parts of the Island are most safe and risky to further inform team designs.
July 2: Community Engagement #2 / Review Preliminary Designs
Objectives:
Provide high level analysis of island context, flooding resilience and existing island conditions
Share learnings from Engagement #1 and identify key tensions at play
Review preliminary design diagrams for community feedback
July 18: Kids’ Input Session for Island Playground
Objectives:
Explore what features are most appealing to kids ages 6-12 through an interactive design event with kids on the island
Create a space for kids and playground designers to interact directly and envision the space together, pulling inspiration from natural materials and previous professional work
Offer an online survey for parents of young kids (under the age of 6) to provide input around what would be most meaningful for them and their young kids to enjoy at the playground
Final reveal: We will host one last event to share the final design and celebrate the work completed in collaboration with the community.
Reports and Designs
Community Engagement #1 Interim Report: To Be Updated
