Dix Park will balance amenities, wide open space

On Friday, the folks who are planning the future of Dix Park shared a home movie, their vision for what the space can be.

Posted 10:35 p.m. Jul 24, 2020 — Updated 10:35 p.m. Jul 24, 2020

Richard Adkins

, WRAL photojournalist

RALEIGH, N.C. — On July 24, 2015, the City of Raleigh signed an agreement with the state officially taking over Dix Hill, site of a former psychiatric hospital and a 308-acre green space adjacent to downtown.

On Friday, the folks who are planning the future of Dix Park shared a home movie, their vision for what the space can be.

"We wanted everyone to be able to get a flavor of the excitement," said Sean Malone, president and CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy.

Kate Pearce, Dix Park project director for the City of Raleigh, calls the work so far "an amazing experience."

"This is going to be the time the community sees the park start to transform," she said. "You're going to see more park amenities come out – benches, swings and picnic tables and areas for shady relaxation – all those things are going to happen over the next couple of years."

Pearce, Malone and others are working to balance additions like the fountains and playgrounds depicted in the park vision video with the pandemic-induced desire for space to spread out outdoors.

"When the pandemic first hit, and it was the cooler spring months, I've never seen as many people at the park, and they're all able to be there a very safe distance from each other because 308 acres is quite a lot of space to be able to spread out," Pearce said.

This year park planners are renovating the historic chapel on the property to create community meeting space, adding signs about the historic significance of the hill and planning the Grand Plaza and Adventure Play area.

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