by Katherine Kopp
Photos courtesy of Dix Park Conservancy
Excitement is building this spring as Gipson Play Plaza, located in Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park, celebrates its grand opening June 6–8 as the newest addition to the 308-acre park. The iconic attraction features interactive play areas, community spaces, a food and beverage market, and more.
Dix Park, owned by the City of Raleigh, was formerly the site of Dorothea Dix Hospital, the state’s first mental hospital. The creation of Dix Park is an example of a best-practice, public-private partnership between the City of Raleigh and Dix Park Conservancy. The City of Raleigh owns and operates Dix Park. The Dix Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to “support the city in its efforts, serve as its philanthropic partner, and help ensure the creation and long-term success of Dix Park,” according to the park’s website.
Many things will make the 18.5-acre Gipson Play Plaza special, says Kate Pearce, Dix Park executive director. “Opening the Gipson Play Plaza represents years of work with the community to bring a space to life that will inspire and delight people of all ages and backgrounds. I can’t wait for the community to experience it firsthand.”
Gipson Play Plaza is a cooperative endeavor among the City of Raleigh, Dix Park Conservancy and generous donors, including Raleigh residents Tom and Pat Gipson, for whom the play plaza is named.
The play plaza was originally referred to as the “Gateway” in Dix Park’s master plan, says Pearce. “The concept was simple: that play welcomes everyone to the park. The location of the play plaza along Lake Wheeler Road creates a very visible entrance into Dix Park, giving an immediate sense of welcome and arrival,” she says. “Plus, it is easily accessed from both downtown Raleigh and I-40.”
The design team of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) of New York and Richter Speilgerate of Frasdorf, Germany, partnered to create whimsical play structures for the plaza. “They were designed to delight the young and the young at heart,”
Pearce says. Tom and Pat Gipson were motivated to give back to their community after years of owning and operating Thomas Gipson Homes in Raleigh. Over several decades, the company built more than 1,000 homes in Raleigh and Wake County. “We owe so much to the city of Raleigh that we wanted to give back,” says Tom.
As they considered a commitment to making a play plaza a reality, the Gipsons visited other parks designed by MVVA. “They have done work at the Brooklyn Bridge Park and at the Gathering Place, a park in Tulsa, Oklahoma,” says Tom. “Pat and I visited there a few years ago, and it was amazing. National Geographic named the Gathering Place as #12 on its list of
‘mind-bending playgrounds around the world,’” he says. “Our play plaza will share many similar features with the Gathering Place.”
The Gipsons believe the play plaza will “really stir the imaginations of kids.” Some of its features include a 91-foot-long mega swing overlooking downtown Raleigh, accessible to visitors of all ages and abilities; Slide Valley, anchored by four custom play towers, connected by multi-level bridges and ranging from 15 to 46 feet in height; the Sand Bowl; and kid-powered water play at Watermill Mountain, inspired by Raleigh’s historic Yates Mill.
Acclaimed Raleigh sculptor Thomas Sayre has transformed two 73’ tall utility towers into a pair of sunflowers. The artworks of Mark Reigelman and Johnny Lee Chapman III will enhance the plaza’s environment and reflect its history. The House of Many Porches, one of many historic buildings within Dix Park, will offer gourmet grab- and-go items. A nearby picnic grove and swing terrace will provide the perfect spot to enjoy lunch while offering views of century-old oaks and the Raleigh skyline. The firm of Joseph K. Opperman–Architect, PA, is addressing the historical aspects of the master plan and its buildings.
The Gipsons are thrilled with the imaginative features of the play plaza. “Most parks are designed with so many constraints,” says Pat. “This park will let kids test their limits within a safe environment.”
Pearce says Gipson Play Plaza’s unique features will make it a “one-of- a-kind destination in the heart of North Carolina’s state capital.”
Dix Park Conservancy estimates that Gipson Play Plaza will draw more than 1 million visitors each year. Learn more about the attraction and its opening at dixpark.org/gipsonplayplaza.