Our board had the privilege of getting a firsthand tour of the many successes of the French Broad River’s revitalization thanks to the hard work of RiverLink – the nonprofit that is spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad and its tributaries, as a destination for everyone to live, learn, work, and play.

Led by Amy Annino, Watershed Resources Director, the board had the chance to see the benefits of public access (even just simple stairs), reclaiming former vacant lands for parks (and festivals), and the ripple effect of having an amenity as beautiful as this one in your backyard (brewpubs, artist markets, outfitters, and thriving businesses along its banks).

While RiverLink, founded in 1987, has been at this a wee bit longer than us, it was inspiring to see that they too started with a vision – to have live, work, play along their mightiest resource. Bringing it to life depends on continued cultivation of awareness and creating reasons to come to the riverfront, to get folks invested. We are up for the challenge, Atlanta!