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== Park planning and Master Plan ==
== Park planning and Master Plan ==
In 2016, the City signed an MOU with the [[Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy]] to guide the development of a master plan for the park. The Conservancy works in partnership with the [[City of Raleigh]] to raise private funds, coordinate programming, and advocate for the park’s long-term vision.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Story|url=https://dixpark.org/about/our-story/|website=dixpark.org|publisher=Dix Park Conservancy|access-date=October 24, 2023}}</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>
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>


''Main article: [[Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan]]''
''Main article: [[Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan]]''


=== Governance and advisory structure ===
=== Governance and advisory structure ===
The park’s development is coordinated across city departments, including Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources, Planning and Development, and Transportation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dix Park Advisory Committee |url=https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/dix-park-advisory-committee |website=raleighnc.gov |publisher=City of Raleigh |access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>
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.
 
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]].
 
2025 milestones from January 2026 meeting
 
* 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
 
==== 2026 MOA update ====
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
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.
 
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.


On May 9, 2020, the City and the Conservancy signed a new MOA to guide the implementation of the Master Plan. As part of the MOA, the Master Plan Executive Committee was replaced with the Dix Park Leadership Committee, which was created to provide guidance to City staff, the Conservancy, and other partners on the implementation of the Master Plan.<ref>https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/files/BRZSHR72CD45/$file/20200804DixParkLeadCommGoverningGuidelines.pdf</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]].
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Dix Park Leadership Committee (January 2026)<ref>https://dixpark.org/leadership-committee</ref>
!Name
!Position
|-
|[[Janet Cowell]] (Chair)
|Mayor
|-
|Bill Ross (Vice-Chair)
|
|-
|Marchell Adams-David
|City Manager
|-
|Stephen Bentley
|Director, [[Raleigh Parks Recreation and Cultural Resources Department]]
|-
|Nancy McFarlane
|[[Dix Park Conservancy]]
|-
|Orage Quarles
|[[Dix Park Conservancy]]
|-
|Ed Fritsch
|[[Dix Park Conservancy]]
|-
|Christa Herndon
|Chair, Dix Park Community Committee
|-
|Chris Pereira
|Chair, [[Parks Recreation Greenways Advisory Board]]
|-
|Alicia Knight
|Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, [[NC State University]]
|-
|David Smith
|Deputy Commissioner, NC Department of Agriculture
|}
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>
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>
== 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.
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>
== 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.
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 ==
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