After a month of operations, Gipson Play Plaza has emerged as a popular destination for families. The play plaza, which opened on June 6, has attracted over 100,000 visitors within its first two weeks.
Spanning 18.5 acres, the play plaza is noted as the largest adventure playground in the southeastern United States. It features elements that reflect the diverse geography of North Carolina, such as waterfalls symbolizing Western North Carolina and watermills and boulders representing the piedmont region.
In addition to its play structures, the plaza offers open lawns for picnics and relaxation. Visitors can also find shaded tables, grills, a civic plaza, and a convenient grab-and-go market nearby.
The park includes a Traffic Garden in collaboration with Oaks and Spokes. This area is designed for children aged three to ten to enjoy walking or biking through streets and intersections scaled down to kid-friendly sizes.
“Dix Park is also offering a Traffic Garden,” according to park officials. “Kid-sized, kid-friendly, and fun, this street network is designed for both good times and a chance to learn.”
Gipson Play Plaza sits on land that has been significant to Raleigh for more than a century. The development of this vision ensures its continued importance in Raleigh’s future.
