By Ms Jheri Worldwide
Staff Writer
Get ready to play, explore, and celebrate! The highly anticipated Gipson Play Plaza is set to open its gates at Dorothea Dix Park this June, promising an 18.5-acre wonderland designed to transform how Raleigh residents and visitors experience one of the city's most beloved green spaces. A grand opening celebration, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a weekend packed with community activities, is scheduled for June 6-8.
This transformative project, years in the making, will serve as a welcoming gateway to the expansive 308-acre Dix Park from Lake Wheeler Road. Designed by the world-renowned landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the Gipson Play Plaza is more than just a playground; it's envisioned as an inspiring public space for all ages, blending imaginative play with civic gathering areas, stunning gardens, and captivating art installations.
Visitors to the Gipson Play Plaza can look forward to a dazzling array of features, including towering three-story climbing structures connected by skywalks in the "Adventure Playground," a mesmerizing sensory maze, and an interactive "Water Play Mountain" modeled after Historic Yates Mill, where children can power the water flow with pulleys and pumps. A "Slide Valley," a "Sand Bowl" for creative play, and a "Swing Terrace" offering views of century-old oaks and the Raleigh skyline are also among the highlights.
The plaza is designed for year-round enjoyment and community gathering. A "Fountain Plaza" with a striking waterfall wall and a grand stair that doubles as amphitheater-style seating will provide a venue for performances and celebrations. For those looking to relax and refuel, a scenic "Picnic Grove" with tables, umbrellas, and grills made from reclaimed Dix Park wood will be available. Adding to the convenience, the historic "House of Many Porches," a beautifully restored 1898 Victorian cottage, will operate as a market offering grab-and-go food, drinks, and park merchandise.
The creation of the Gipson Play Plaza was made possible through a combination of public and private funding, including crucial support from the 2022 Parks Bond, which Raleigh voters overwhelmingly approved. A cornerstone of the private funding was a generous $10 million lead gift from Raleigh philanthropists Pat and Tom Gipson, for whom the plaza is named. Their contribution, alongside others to the Dix Park Conservancy, has been pivotal in bringing this ambitious vision to life.
"The opening of Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park is a transformative addition to Raleigh's parks system, creating an exciting new space for families and visitors while reinforcing our vision for a central park,” said Stephen Bentley, City of Raleigh Parks Director, in a statement. He emphasized the city's commitment to vibrant, inclusive public spaces that promote public health and community connection.
The design philosophy behind the plaza draws inspiration from North Carolina's regional landscapes, Raleigh's rich gardening tradition, and the history of the Dix Park site itself, which was once home to a hospital. The aim was to create a space that encourages adventurous, free play for children while also offering areas for picnicking, grilling, and simply exploring for people of all ages and abilities. Public art is also integrated into the plaza, including a poetry walk by Johnny Lee Chapman III, and a sculpture series of oversized deer by Mark Reigelman, paying homage to the park's natural elegance and history.
The grand opening festivities will kick off with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 6, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The celebration will continue on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., featuring live music, family activities, roving entertainment, food trucks, and an immersive light experience after dark. The Gipson Play Plaza is poised to become a premier destination not just for Raleigh, but for the entire region, offering new opportunities for play, connection, and making memories.
