Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan

A screenshot of Dix Park from the 2019 master plan.

Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan

The Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan is a long-range planning document adopted by the Raleigh City Council on February 19, 2019, to guide the transformation of the former Dorothea Dix Hospital campus into a public park. The plan establishes a flexible framework for the future use, landscape design, and building reuse across approximately 308 acres over multiple decades. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Background

The Dorothea Dix campus includes land that has been used as a plantation, hospital complex, agricultural land, cemetery, and municipal landfill. At the time of acquisition by the City of Raleigh in 2015, the site contained a dense cluster of buildings and infrastructure associated with the former hospital, much of it inaccessible to the public.

Main Article: Dix Park

The Master Plan is explicitly non-binding and is intended to guide future design and implementation decisions rather than prescribe final outcomes.

Planning process

On April 19, 2016, the City signed a five-year 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). The MOU also created two committees to oversee development of the plan:

• Master Plan Executive Committee (MPEC) comprised of eight members: the Raleigh City Mayor serving as chair, a Council member appointed by the Mayor, two City staff members, three members selected by the Conservancy, the Chancellor of NC State University. The Conservancy selected the vice-chair.
• Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC) comprised of a larger group of community stakeholders to provide input on the master plan.

After a national search, the MPEC recommended Michael Van Valkenburg Associates, a Brooklyn-based design firm, as the selected consultant for the master planning process. Council approved the decision unanimously on February 21, 2017.

The City reported more than 65,000 public interactions during the planning process.

Core principles

The Master Plan is guided by three principles:

• Open up and connect the site to surrounding neighborhoods, downtown Raleigh, and regional destinations.
• Build from existing natural features, historic landscapes, and cultural history.
• Provide a wide range of experiences accessible to all users. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Landscape framework

Six landscapes identified in the Dix Park Master Plan.

The Master Plan organizes the park into six interconnected landscape zones, each defined by ecological conditions, history, and intended use.

The Creek focuses on restoration of Rocky Branch, which had been channelized and degraded by landfill activity. The plan proposes restoring wetlands, riparian buffers, and native plant systems while allowing for trails and environmental education.

The Meadow expands the existing Big Field into a large, continuous open landscape intended to function as a civic commons. Building removal is used to expand views, reduce barriers, and create what the plan describes as a “boundless” landscape.

The Grove emphasizes woodland restoration and shade gardens. The plan proposes removing a series of small cottages constructed in the 1930s and 1950s whose scale, layout, and condition were found to be poorly suited for reuse.

The Ridge encompasses the historic hospital complex located on Dix Hill. The plan proposes restoring the original civic axis envisioned by architect A.J. Davis by removing 20th-century building additions and reestablishing open views and pedestrian circulation.

The Valley includes lower-lying areas near the railroad corridor. The plan anticipates large-scale event use and proposes a pedestrian trestle connecting The Ridge to other park areas.

The Gateway zones are intended to replace historic barriers with welcoming entrances that include plazas, play areas, concessions, and access points connecting the park to downtown and adjacent neighborhoods.

Buildings and demolition

At the time of planning, the site included approximately 85 buildings totaling 1,171,818 square feet of floor area and occupying 679,790 square feet of building footprint.

The Master Plan proposes:

• Retaining and rehabilitating 32 buildings
• Removing 53 buildings
• Reserving approximately 8 acres of building footprint for potential future uses without increasing total building coverage on the site

The proposed removals would eliminate approximately:

• 478,328 square feet of building floor area
• 331,521 square feet of building footprint

Buildings proposed for removal are grouped into five clusters intended to:

• Expand the Meadow and restore open landscapes
• Extend the Grove and improve ecological conditions
• Restore the historic hospital setting on The Ridge
• Create a civic axis linking downtown to the State Farmers Market
• Improve pedestrian access between The Ridge and the Meadow

Specific reuse and demolition decisions were identified as subject to future public processes and City Council approval. See also: Dix Park#Demolition of historic structures

Community engagement

Public engagement was a central component of the Master Plan. The City reported more than 65,000 instances of public participation across meetings, surveys, site tours, and online feedback.

Engagement themes included:

• Desire for a large, democratic civic space
• Restoration of natural systems
• Recognition of the site’s layered history, including its role as a mental health institution
• Programming focused on wellness, arts, and cultural expression

The plan acknowledges that community input reflected differing and sometimes competing priorities and that flexibility would be required during implementation.

Implementation and phasing

The Master Plan outlines a phased approach to implementation extending over multiple decades. Early phases emphasize stewardship, ecological restoration, public access, and temporary uses of buildings slated for future demolition.

The plan identifies a wide range of future studies and actions, including:

• Utility infrastructure planning
• Transportation and access studies
• Cultural engagement planning
• Governance and funding frameworks
• Ongoing public engagement

All future implementation decisions are identified as subject to public process and City Council approval.

Status

The Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan remains a guiding framework. Individual projects, designs, funding decisions, and building actions continue to require separate review and authorization.

Sources

• Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan, City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, adopted February 19, 2019.