Gipson Play Plaza - Dorothea Dix Park Raleigh
By Chelsea Nallenweg
Gipson Play Plaza, an 18.5-acre adventure park located within Dorothea Dix Park, welcomed the public for the first time during a three-day grand opening celebration from last June 6 to June 8. This incredible new park is now the largest adventure playground in the Southeast!
Gipson Play Plaza features a wide range of play areas designed for all ages. Slide Valley includes four multi-story climbing towers connected by a mix of stationary and swaying bridges with several large slides. Past the climbing structure is a rock wall that leads to another giant slide and a cool tunnel slide that goes through the ground! There are also a few smaller slides for little ones. There is an area with tables overlooking the playground area for caregivers to sit and watch, and this entire slide area is fenced in—but it’s big!! There are also paved sidewalks throughout the playground/park area to bring a stroller.
Be sure to bring a change of clothes because the other half of the playground area has lots of cool water features! Fountain Plaza features an interactive splash pad and waterfall inspired by the waterfalls of western North Carolina. Watermill Mountain offers a hands-on water play experience that includes pumps, spouts, pulleys, and other water movement elements based on the mechanics of Historic Yates Mill. There is also a large sand play area known as the Sand Bowl, designed for younger children to dig, build, and slide.
In addition to the primary play areas, the plaza includes beautiful gardens, picnic zones, a 91-foot-long row of swings for both kids and adults, and a sensory maze. The sensory maze is designed for kids to touch, make noise, and inspire imagination. Over 1,000 trees and 110,000 plants have been installed to support long-term landscape growth and create future shade throughout the park.
Food and beverages are available at the House of Many Porches Market, which serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads, snacks, and alcoholic beverages. There are Adirondack and rocking chairs on the lawn and porch of the cafe, making this a relaxing place to hang out. Restrooms are located inside the cafe. The park also includes very nice, air-conditioned restrooms near the water fountain area, designed to accommodate families with young children; one even has a shower!
Parking is available in multiple lots around the park. On weekends, visitors may also use a free park-and-ride shuttle to access the site. Make sure to add this to your list of parks to check out in the Triangle this weekend!
Posted by The Honeycutt Team on
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