Gipson Play Plaza
Along the southern edge of Dorothea Dix Park just minutes from downtown Raleigh, this 18.5-acre public park is a fun, inviting, and inspiring destination for families, adventurers, visitors, and nature lovers of all ages and abilities from around the city and across the state. Envisioned to become a vibrant hub for wellness, relaxation, and community engagement, Gipson Play Plaza offers a welcoming one-of-a-kind place for everyone to explore and return to time and again.
This first phase of implementing the Dix Park Master Plan features a variety of elements directly informed by a robust public engagement process and includes multiple unique play spaces, a civic plaza, water play, gardens, native prairies, and flex-space areas for grilling, events, and relaxation. The park’s rich history is highlighted through furniture salvaged from trees felled on site, public art, interpretive signage, and the rehabilitation of a historic house.
Lake Wheeler Road Entrance
Some of the special features include a Mill House inspired by the nearby Yates Mill, stone walls crafted from locally sourced Argillite, an immersive hedge maze designed to engage all five senses, a 20’ tall waterfall and grotto, and state-of-the-art water and stormwater devices integrated into the landscape.
Mill House in Production at Richter Spielgeräte
Four custom play towers, varying in height from 15 to 46 feet, inspired by North Carolina's woodworking history, and constructed of sustainably cultivated Larch (Larix decidua) from the Alps – were fabricated by hand in Richter’s 3 different Bavarian workshops over a total of 38 weeks. Linked by double-decker play bridges and an ADA accessible route running throughout.
Hobgood Architects
