About

Picture of posed dog in park
A Park for Everyone, Built by Everyone

This community has an extraordinary opportunity. The chance to create a new public space of this size in the heart of a city is remarkable – and simply unparalleled in the United States. This is especially true with land of such beauty, history, and potential: rich and varied landscapes, dramatic hills and old growth oaks, historic buildings, beautiful prairies and rolling fields, iconic skyline views – all in a bucolic, campus-like setting.

For thousands of years, Indigenous people crossed this land hunting, gathering, and potentially cultivating the site for sustenance. For 150 years this land was part of the Spring Hill Plantation, worked by enslaved African Americans. For the next 160 years it was the site of North Carolina's first mental health facility, Dorothea Dix Hospital – including the past decade as the headquarters for North Carolina DHHS. This rich and complex history prompted the City of Raleigh to have Dix Park become a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, a global network of historic sites, museums and initiatives that strive to turn memory into action in ways that let us draw on the past to paint a better future.

If we rise to this opportunity, Dorothea Dix Park will have a unique ability to bring us together. By honoring the park's history, we can build together a unique place of belonging for all individuals and families, for all communities, economic levels, backgrounds, and interests. The benefits of a great urban park are profound – improvements to physical, mental, and emotional health; community health (safety, cohesiveness, empathy, civic pride, belonging); health of our environment, and much more. The park will transform individual lives and will be essential to ensuring a livable and sustainable region for generations to come.

Be a part of creating Dorothea Dix Park as a place for everyone – a transformative public space for community, wellness, play, celebration, and resilience that will enrich our quality of life in North Carolina.

City of Raleigh

Raleigh Parks

Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department strives to connect and enrich our community through exceptional experiences. The City of Raleigh owns and operates Dix Park, under the leadership of the Raleigh Parks Director, Stephen Bentley. The day-to-day planning, programming and operations of the park are conducted by the Dix Park team with leadership from Raleigh Parks Assistant Director, Adam Forman.

Planning & Operations

Kate Pearce – Executive Director
kate.pearce@raleighnc.gov

Dean Perry – Senior Planner
dean.perry@raleighnc.gov

Eric Regensburger – Senior Planner
eric.regendburger@raleighnc.gov

Lauren Danforth – Marketing & Communications Manager
lauren.danforth@raleighnc.gov

Sarah DeSpain – Chapel Manager 
sarah.despain@raleighnc.gov

Katie Kahut – Event Manager 
katie.kahut@raleighnc.gov

Jenni King – Communications Technician
Madison Leake – Administrative Specialist
Program Specialist

Maintenance & Horticulture

Charles Craig – Assistant Director – Parks and Natural Resources
Deshea Blake Natural Resources and Parks Supervisor
Brett Kiger – Natural Resources and Parks Crew Supervisor
Jonathan Allen – Maintenance Technician, Senior
Charles Hill – Maintenance Technician
Edward Rogerson – Maintenance Technician
Brandon Stphenson – Maintenance Technician
Earl Brown – Maintenance Technician
David Cline – Maintenance Technician

 

Dix Park Conservancy

In partnership with the City of Raleigh, the Conservancy ensures the creation and long-term success of Dorothea Dix Park as a place for everyone – a transformative public space for community, health, and celebration that will enrich our quality of life in North Carolina.

Make It All Possible

Now is the time to honor Dix Park’s extraordinary history and celebrate its promising future. A park for everyone, built by everyone. We need your voice, energy, talent, and donations to make Dix Park North Carolina’s great signature, urban park. Help make it happen!

 

DIXPARKCONSERVANCY.ORG