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Created page with "{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:260px;" |- ! Dorothea Dix Park |- | 260px|alt=Dorothea Dix Park skyline view |} '''Dorothea Dix Park''' is a public park located southwest of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The park occupies approximately 308 acres of land formerly used as the Dorothea Dix Hospital campus and is one of the largest public parks in the City of Raleigh. The site offers expansive view..."
 
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'''Dorothea Dix Park ("Dix Park")''' is a public park located southwest of downtown [[Raleigh, North Carolina]]. The park occupies approximately 308 acres of land formerly used as the Dorothea Dix Hospital campus and is one of the largest public parks in the City of Raleigh and the southeast. The park has extensive views of the downtown skyline and is a major open-space and civic amenity.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Dix Park|url=https://dixpark.org/about|website=dixpark.org|publisher=City of Raleigh|access-date=June 26, 2026}}</ref>
'''Dorothea Dix Park''' is a public park located southwest of downtown [[Raleigh, North Carolina]]. The park occupies approximately 308 acres of land formerly used as the Dorothea Dix Hospital campus and is one of the largest public parks in the City of Raleigh. The site offers expansive views of the downtown skyline and serves as a major open-space and civic amenity.<ref>https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/dorothea-dix-park</ref>


The park is owned and managed by the [[City of Raleigh]] and has been developed through a multi-phase planning and public engagement process following the closure of the hospital and transfer of the property from the State of North Carolina to the city.
The park is owned and managed by the [[City of Raleigh]] and has been developed through a multi-phase planning and public engagement process following the closure of the hospital and transfer of the property from the State of North Carolina to the city.
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=== Dorothea Dix Hospital ===
=== Dorothea Dix Hospital ===
The land that now comprises Dorothea Dix Park was established in the mid-nineteenth century as the site of the North Carolina Insane Asylum, later known as [[Dorothea Dix Hospital]]. The hospital opened in 1856 and was named for Dorothea Dix, a mental health reformer whose advocacy contributed to the creation of public institutions for the care of people with mental illness.<ref>{{cite web |last=Covington |first=Howard E., Jr. |title=Dorothea Dix Hospital |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/dorothea-dix-hospital |website=NCPedia |publisher=North Carolina Museum of History |access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>


The land that now comprises Dorothea Dix Park was established in the mid-nineteenth century as the site of the North Carolina Insane Asylum, later known as Dorothea Dix Hospital. The hospital opened in 1856 and was named for Dorothea Dix, a mental health reformer whose advocacy contributed to the creation of public institutions for the care of people with mental illness.<ref>https://www.ncpedia.org/dorothea-dix-hospital</ref>
Over more than a century, the campus expanded to include numerous buildings, roadways, and utility systems and functioned as a major state psychiatric facility. The hospital played a significant role in North Carolina’s mental health system but was also associated with changing approaches to institutional care over time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Psychiatric Hospitals|url=https://www.ncpedia.org/psychiatric-hospitals|website=NCPedia|publisher=NCPedia|access-date=June 26, 2026}}</ref>
 
Over more than a century, the campus expanded to include numerous buildings, roadways, and utility systems and functioned as a major state psychiatric facility. The hospital played a significant role in North Carolina’s mental health system but was also associated with changing approaches to institutional care over time.<ref>https://www.ncpedia.org/mental-health-care-north-carolina</ref>
 
=== Closure and state ownership ===
 
In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, North Carolina shifted away from large institutional psychiatric hospitals toward community-based mental health care. As part of this transition, Dorothea Dix Hospital gradually reduced operations and officially closed in 2012.<ref>https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/department-initiatives/dorothea-dix-campus</ref>
 
Following the closure, the State of North Carolina retained ownership of the campus while considering future uses for the property.
 
== Transfer to the City of Raleigh ==


In 2015, the State of North Carolina and the City of Raleigh reached an agreement transferring ownership of the Dorothea Dix campus to the city. The transfer was structured as a purchase by the city for approximately $52 million, with funding supported by local bonds and other financing mechanisms.<ref>https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/dorothea-dix-park-history</ref>
=== Closure and transfer to the City ===
In the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, North Carolina shifted away from large institutional psychiatric hospitals toward community-based mental health care. As part of this transition, Dorothea Dix Hospital gradually reduced operations and officially closed in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dorothea Dix Campus |url=https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/department-initiatives/dorothea-dix-campus |website=ncdhhs.gov |publisher=North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services |access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>


City leaders identified the site as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a large public park close to downtown Raleigh, consistent with long-standing community interest in preserving the land as open space.
In 2015, the State of North Carolina and the City of Raleigh reached an agreement transferring ownership of the Dorothea Dix campus to the city. The transfer was structured as a purchase by the city for approximately $52 million, with the sale proceeds going towards state mental health programs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Council OKs Dix property purchase - McCrory: Proceeds of $52M sale will go to mental health programs|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article19380408.html|website=https://www.newsobserver.com/|publisher=The News & Observer|access-date=June 26, 2026}}</ref> The full terms of the sale were:


== Park planning and public engagement ==
* Raleigh would pay the state $2 million of the $52 million total on the date the contract is executed.
* The city would do site examinations before closing on the deal to get an idea of maintenance and environmental remediation costs.
* As part of the site examinations, the city would test for asbestos and lead-based paint. It would not do "invasive testing," including soil boring.
* The city would notify the state of any environmental hazard identified.
* The city and state would close on the deal no more than 60 days after the city's receipt of funding, and no later than Feb. 29, 2016.
* The city would take over a 1999 lease agreement with The Healing Place of Wake County, a nonprofit recovery program for homeless people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction.
* If the General Assembly passed a law that would restrict the city's use of the property for more than one year, the city could terminate the contract.
* The city would not take over the state's liabilities regarding the landfill site on the property.
* If the city decided to sell or lease any part of the property, the state and city would share equally in the proceeds for no longer than 17 years.
* The state would be responsible for maintaining landscaping and vegetation in its leased area.
* The state and city would work together to maintain and repair access roads, including fixing potholes and removing snow and ice.


=== Early visioning and planning ===
A group of Republican State legislators attempted to block the direct sale to the City, and instead auction off the park for a minimum of $52 million.<ref>{{Cite web|access-date=June 26, 2026|publisher=NC General Assembly|website=ncleg.gov|url=https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2015/Bills/Senate/PDF/S705v1.pdf|title=SENATE BILL 705: Ensure Fair Sale of Dorothea Dix Property.}}</ref> The bill did not leave the Committee on Health Care.


Following acquisition of the property, the City of Raleigh initiated an extensive planning process to determine the future of Dorothea Dix Park. This process included public meetings, surveys, workshops, and engagement with community stakeholders.<ref>https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/dorothea-dix-park-planning</ref>
== Park planning and Master Plan ==
On April 19, 2016, the City signed an MOU with the [[Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy]] to guide the development of a master plan. As part of MOU, the Conservancy contributed up to $3 million for the master plan process ($2 million for planning, and $1 million for other activities and support).<ref>{{Cite minutes|accessed=|url=File:Raleigh City Council Minutes 2016-04-19.pdf|publisher:=City of Raleigh|date=April 19, 2016|item=DOROTHEA DIX PARK – UPDATE RECEIVED; MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING – APPROVED|access-date=January 27, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|accessed=|publisher=The News & Observer|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/raleigh-report-blog/article72657712.html|website=newsobserver.com|title=Raleigh strikes deals so conservancy can raise money for Dix Park|date=April 20, 2016|access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref> In April 2019, the Raleigh City Council adopted the [[Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan]], a long-range framework intended to guide the park’s design, development, and programming over multiple decades.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan |url=https://cityofraleigh0drupal.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/drupal-prod/COR22/DixParkMasterPlan.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=City of Raleigh |date=April 2019 |access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>


In 2019, the City adopted the '''Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan''', which established a long-term vision for the park’s development. The master plan emphasizes open space, flexible programming, environmental stewardship, and preservation of the site’s historic and cultural resources.<ref>https://cityofraleigh0drupal.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/drupal-prod/COR22/DixParkMasterPlan.pdf</ref>
''Main article: [[Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan]]''


=== Governance and advisory structure ===
=== Governance and advisory structure ===
On May 19, 2020, the city council approved a new MOA with the Conservancy to guide implementation of the master plan.<ref>{{Cite web|accessed-date=|publisher=City of Raleigh|title=MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT|url=https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/files/BPLS256E0EA1/$file/20200519FinalMOADixPark.pdf|website=boarddocs.com|access-date=January 27, 2026}}</ref> As part of the new MOA, the Master Plan Executive Committee established in the 2016 MOU was replaced by the Dix Park Leadership Committee, with representatives from both the City and the Conservancy.<ref>https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/files/BRZSHR72CD45/$file/20200804DixParkLeadCommGoverningGuidelines.pdf</ref> A Dix Park Community Committee was also created to provide input from a broader group of community stakeholders. The 2020 MOA also allowed the City recognize donors and provide naming opportunities within the park as a way for the Conservancy to more effectively secure donations.


To support planning and oversight, the City created the Dix Park Inter-Departmental Team and a public advisory committee. The park’s development is coordinated across city departments, including Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, Planning and Development, and Transportation.<ref>https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/dix-park-advisory-committee</ref>
Additionally, the 2020 MOA replaced the Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC) with the Dix Park Community Committee, with 21 of the 45 members rolling over from the MPAC. Ultimate authority over land use and capital decisions remains with the City and the [[Raleigh City Council]].
 
== Development and phased implementation ==


Development of Dorothea Dix Park is planned to occur over multiple phases, reflecting the site’s size, infrastructure needs, and funding availability.
2025 milestones from January 2026 meeting


Key components identified in the master plan include:
* Opening of Gipson Play Plaza
* DHHS transition off campus
* Completion of initial $75 million fundraising campaign
* Multiple public art projects, including the Dambo trolls
* Buildings become the top priority to address
* Visitation nearly doubled


* Large open lawns and meadows 
==== 2026 MOA update ====
* Tree preservation and landscape restoration 
On January 20, 2026, council authorized the [[Raleigh City Manager]] to execute a new MOA with the Conservancy, as the implementation needs of the park have changed since the 2020 MOA.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|publisher=City of Raleigh|access-date=January 27, 2026|website=raleighnc.gov|title=Bid Award - Dix Park Demolition and Abatement - Webb-Harrell
* Adaptive reuse or removal of former hospital structures 
Construction Service Corp.|url=https://pub-raleighnc.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=7997}}</ref> The new MOA would replace the Dix Park Leadership Committee with a more formal group called the "Dix Park Commission". The makeup of the Commission would include appointments from the Mayor and Council, three from the Conservancy, one from the [[Wake County Board of Commissioners]], NCSU, Department of Agriculture, Parks Advisory Board, and newly combined Community committee. Like other boards and commissions, no elected officials would serve on the Commission.
* Cultural programming and event spaces 
* Pedestrian and bicycle connections to surrounding neighborhoods 


Initial improvements focused on safety, access, and interim uses, such as temporary event spaces, sunflower fields, and seasonal programming.<ref>https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/dorothea-dix-park-events</ref>
The Commission would oversee and approve Dix Park policies, make recommendations to the council around naming rights, and prioritize projects for funding to Council. The Commission would also approve public art projects with input from the [[Raleigh Arts]] staff and [[Public Art Design Board]]. The new MOA would also give the Conservancy more flexibility and decision-making authority around donor recognition and naming rights, and designate the Conservancy as the primary partner for all new and adaptive reuse of buildings and development.


Major capital investments are expected to occur over decades, with project sequencing informed by infrastructure constraints and community priorities.
Dorothea Dix Park is referenced in the City’s long-range planning documents, including the [[Raleigh Comprehensive Plan]], as a key civic and recreational asset.<ref>{{cite web|title=2030 Comprehensive Plan|url=https://raleighnc.gov/planning/services/2030-comprehensive-plan|website=raleighnc.gov|publisher=City of Raleigh|access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>


== Relationship to city planning ==
== Gipson Play Plaza ==
The Play Plaza consists of a 18.5 +/- acre area located within Dorothea Dix Park, adjacent to Lake Wheeler Road between Goode Street and Umstead Drive.


Dorothea Dix Park is referenced in the City’s long-range planning documents, including the [[Raleigh 2030 Comprehensive Plan]], as a key civic and recreational asset. The park is also considered in transportation, greenway, and cultural planning initiatives due to its proximity to downtown and regional trail networks.<ref>https://raleighnc.gov/planning/services/2030-comprehensive-plan</ref>
On December 7, 2021, a public hearing was brought before the City Council to name the Play Plaza the "Gipson Play Park", after Raleigh residents Pat and Tom Gipson. Under the naming policies adopted by the City in July 2021, the Gipsons contributed $10 million towards the construction of the Play Plaza. Dix Park Conservancy leadership and former [[Raleigh Mayor]] [[Nancy McFarlane]] spoke in favor of the proposal. The Council voted 8-0 in approval.<ref>{{Cite minutes|title=City Council Regular Session|date=December 7, 2021|url=https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/goto?open=&id=AMXHS2497127#|item=DOROTHEA DIX PARK – PLAY PLAZA PROJECT – NAMING OPPORTUNITY – HEARING – APPROVED|access-date=January 27, 2026}}</ref>


== Public use and programming ==
== Demolition of historic structures ==
The [[Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan]] recommends the removal of 53 buildings (nearly half a million square feet), most of which were leased back by the State for operations of the Department of Health and Human Resources.


The park hosts a variety of public events and activities, including festivals, fitness programming, educational events, and informal recreation. Portions of the site remain under development, and public access continues to expand as improvements are completed.<ref>https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/dorothea-dix-park</ref>
On January 20, 2026, Council awarded a $3 million contract to Webb-Harrell Construction Service Corp. for the demolition of four buildings on the west campus at Dix Park. The four buildings - Ashby, Adams, Kirby, and Williams - total nearly 290,000 square feet.<ref name=":0" />


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[City of Raleigh]]
* [[City of Raleigh]]
* [[Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources]]
* [[Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan]]
* [[Raleigh 2030 Comprehensive Plan]]
* [[North Carolina mental health history]]
* [[Downtown Raleigh]]


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


[[Category:Parks in Raleigh, North Carolina]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Parks in Raleigh, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Raleigh, North Carolina]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Raleigh, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Urban parks in North Carolina]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Urban parks in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Government of Raleigh, North Carolina]]
[[index.php?title=Category:Government of Raleigh, North Carolina]]
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