Big news for families and fun-seekers across the Triangle! The largest adventure playground in the Southeast is about to open its gates right here in Raleigh.
Mark Your Calendars for June 6-8!
The City of Raleigh is thrilled to announce the grand opening of the highly anticipated Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park. This extraordinary 18.5-acre wonderland will transform how we play, gather, and experience our city’s green spaces.
The celebration kicks off with a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 6 at 4 p.m., followed by a weekend packed with community activities, live music, food trucks, and an immersive light experience after dark.
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What Makes Gipson Play Plaza Special?
This isn’t just another playground—it’s a destination designed to spark imagination and delight visitors of all ages. The play plaza features:
“Gipson Play Plaza is a generational addition to all the things that make Raleigh a great place to live, work and certainly play,” notes Mayor Janet Cowell. “We look forward to seeing even more great things at Dix Park.”
A Welcoming Gateway to Dix Park
Designed by world-renowned landscape architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the play plaza serves as a beautiful entrance to the 308-acre Dix Park from Lake Wheeler Road. And there’s more good news for visitors: a grab-and-go market at the historic House of Many Porches will ensure you can fuel up for your day of adventure.
Stephen Bentley, City of Raleigh Parks Director, shares his enthusiasm: “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. This project, alongside recent and future investments at John Chavis Memorial Park and our award-winning greenway system, showcases our commitment to vibrant, inclusive public spaces and public health.”
A Public-Private Partnership Success Story
This incredible new space wouldn’t be possible without both public support and private generosity. The 2022 Parks Bond, approved by over 73% of Raleigh voters, provided crucial funding for this and many other park improvements across the city. Additionally, the Dix Park Conservancy secured generous donations, including a remarkable $10 million lead gift from Pat and Tom Gipson.
“Dix Park strives to be a world-class destination and welcoming environment for all, and Gipson Play Plaza is a fantastic and important step towards meeting that goal,” says Ruffin Hall, president and CEO of Dix Park Conservancy. “There is nothing in our area quite like Gipson Play Plaza, and we look forward to welcoming people from places near and far, who will then go on to discover other amazing Dix Park features.”
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Join the Celebration!
The grand opening weekend includes:
Construction of the play plaza began in October 2022, and now we’re just weeks away from experiencing this remarkable new community asset. For more information about the grand opening, visit Ready, Set, Go! Gipson Play Plaza Set to Open in June | Raleighnc.gov.
