Gipson Play Plaza Grand Opening

In addition to the main festivities, guests can enjoy delightful surprises throughout the day! Wandering around the park you will find-

• Beloved local mascots - Champ the Bat Dog, Wool E Bull, UNC Rameses, Mr & Mrs Wuf
• Sunny the Fun Fairy
• Playful bubbles with Imagine Circus

In addition to the main festivities, guests can enjoy delightful surprises throughout the day! Wandering around the park you will find-

• Beloved local mascots - Wool E Bull, UNC Rameses, Mr & Mrs. Wuf
• Sunny the Fun Fairy
• Playful bubbles with Imagine Circus

Yes, that's right! Gipson Play Plaza is free to visit seven days a week. Parking at Dix Park is also free of charge. 

May – September: 8am – 9pm

October – April: 9am – 8pm

The rest of Dix Park is open daily, sunrise to sunset.

• Sunscreen and hats
• Change of clothes, towels and/or swimsuits for waterplay
• Refillable water bottles
• Food and non-alcoholic drinks permitted

Leave at home

• Outside alcohol
• Drones
• Smoking and vaping
• While well-behaved, leashed dogs are allowed at Gipson Play Plaza, we recommend leaving them at home for this event. 

Gipson Play Plaza is located at 715 Biggs Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603

Free Parking at Dix Park

Event Park & Shuttle Map

Free Shuttles

• Shuttles in Dix Park from parking lots more than a 10 minute walk from Gipson Play Plaza
• Downtown Shuttle from Moore Square Park
  • Free 2-Hour Parking Downtown

Shuttle Hours

• Friday, June 6th: 4:00 PM—10:00 PM
• Saturday, June 7th: 8:00 AM—10:00 PM
• Sunday, June 8th: 8:00 AM—10:00 PM

ADA Parking & Shuttle

• Enter at Umstead Drive via Lake Wheeler Road for dedicated ADA parking. ADA permit/placard required.
• An on-demand ADA Shuttle will service all shuttle stops. 

In the case of inclement weather, the event may be postponed or canceled. Notice will be posted on social media and dixpark.org.

In the event of severe weather, the park will be cleared and visitors asked to return to their vehicles.

Text Alerts

Text GIPSONPLAY to 888777 to receive public safety messages about Gipson Play Plaza Grand Opening including unforeseen delays or cancellations.

The centrally-located Restroom Building has 10 restroom cabanas with space to change clothes in each. 

Public restrooms are also located in the House of Many Porches Market.

Temporary restrooms are also available at the event site.

Dix Park is committed to making the park and its amenities and programs accessible to all.

ADA Parking & Shuttle—Grand Opening Weekend

• Enter at Umstead Drive via Lake Wheeler Road for dedicated ADA parking. ADA permit/placard required.
• An on-demand ADA Shuttle will service all shuttle stops. 

Event Parking & Shuttle Map

ADA Parking—Regular Operations

• Public Parking Lots B, D, E, G adjacent to Gipson Play Plaza have ADA parking spaces, accessible curb cuts and sidewalks into the park.  

Entrances & Pathways

• All entrances and pathways are accessible including ADA grade paths on either side of the Grand Stair.
• The permeable surface of the Sensory Maze and Picnic Grove is accessible.
• A portion of the Picnic Grove surface includes a stabilizing binder for a more stable and level surface.

Playgrounds

• All play areas have at grade access points with accessible interactive play features.
• The play towers in Slide Valley have an wheelchair accessible route through the first level that includes the sway bridge.
• Two slides have transfer platforms.
• There are three transfer platform access points in the Sand Bowl. 

Restrooms & Facilities

• Restroom cabanas are fully accessible.
• House of Many Porches Market is fully accessible.
• Picnic Grove tables are accessible including spaces for wheelchair positioning.
• Water fountains are accessible.

Service Animals

• Service animals are welcome in the park.

Programs & Events 

Raleigh Parks Inclusion Services works with community members to support participation. To request a program modification based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form or contact Inclusion Services staff at 919-996-2147 or ParksInclusion@raleighnc.gov.

• Ride Cardinal Bikeshare – There is a new Cardinal Bikeshare station at Gipson Play Plaza! 
  • Use promotional code GipsonPlayPlaza to ride for free grand opening weekend! 
• E-Scooters – There are three scooter corrals around Gipson Play Plaza for convenient e-scooter parking. 
• Bike Parking – Bike racks are located at Gipson Play Plaza entrances.

Contact Dix Park Staff at 919-996-3255 or events@dixpark.org