Past & Present Histories
Places like Dix Park matter for what they were in the past and what they are today.
Dix Park has a complex, layered past with several important community histories. These stories also reflect broader themes in our national history and in our society today:
- A history of the land's use and stewardship by Native Americans
- Descendant histories of those enslaved at the Spring Hill Plantation
- Stories of living, working, and receiving treatment at Dix Hospital
- Changes to the site's ecology and built landscape over time
Cultural Interpretation Plan
Beginning with the Dix Park Master Plan and the park’s commitment as a Site of Conscience, the goal of creating a cultural interpretation plan for Dix Park is to explore the complex history and many stories of the park site, and make recommendations for how visitors will learn about and experience this history in the future of the park.
The Dix Park Cultural Interpretation Plan kicked off in December 2022 and was completed in June 2024.
This guiding document is the result of researching, listening, and strategizing about how history, community, recreation, and reflection could come together at Dix Park. It’s a synthesis of community priorities that also offers structured recommendations for sharing the site’s history with visitors and connecting the past to what Raleighites find meaningful today. This plan will guide the ongoing process of community planning for Dix Park.
DIX PARK CULTURAL INTERPRETATION PLAN
Project Team
- Design & Project Management – Cloud Gehshan
- Interpretive Planning – Brocade Studio
Project Funding
The Cultural Interpretation Plan for Dix Park is funded by grants from the State of North Carolina General Assembly, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Dix Park Conservancy.
Project Contact
Eric Regensburger, Senior Planner - Dix Park
919-663-8431
Eric.Regensburger@raleighnc.gov
Engagement Hub
During the planning process, the project team utilized an online engagement hub on PublicInput.com to share information, conduct surveys and gather feedback. Past surveys, virtual workshops and draft documents are available to view.