In 1901, philanthropist George Willis Pack gave the county a plot of land for a new courthouse on College Street. The terms of the gift required the county to demolish the old courthouse, which then stood on the square, and to maintain the square as a public park forever. The dream of improving this space has been revived periodically over the years, and, in 1999, a water leak under a street in Pa
ck Square brought the topic to the forefront once again. As it became clear that extensive work would be required to update water lines in the area, a citizens' group launched a discussion about creating a beautiful new public park that would embrace Pack Square and City-County Plaza. Community and business leaders and elected officials joined the conversation and formed the Pack Square Renaissance task force, which began the lengthy task of planning the 6.5-acre park. In October 2000, Pack Square Conservancy was established as a non-profit organization charged with designing, building and funding the new park. The planning and design process continued for several years and included 24 public workshops and forums in which hundreds of citizens voiced their preferences for a variety of features. The most popular requests were for open green space, water features, original art by regional artists, a large performance stage and public restrooms. Construction on the park infrastructure began in the east end of the park in late 2005. Thanks to the generous contributions and hard work of hundreds of people, Pack Square Park is no longer just a dream! Historic Pack Square opened in stages over the summer of 2009, and the fences came down in Roger McGuire Green on September 25. Life is returning to the park as families and friends gather to admire the fountains, the handmade tiles on the stage, the Veterans’ Memorial and the lush green grass. Events are now being scheduled in Pack Square and McGuire Green through the City of Asheville Parks & Recreation Department. All reservations, fees and permitting are handled by the folks at Parks & Rec. Pack Square Park is not only a beautiful and delightful space that speaks eloquently of the land and its people, it represents the generous philanthropic spirit established by George Willis Pack and carried forward to this day by individuals who devote their energies to building community and quality of life.
