Your Visit Starts Here
Find your escape in the heart of the City. Come enjoy the wide-open fields, rolling meadows and shady tree groves or join us at one of a variety of exciting programs. During the master plan process, we will host a variety of public programs and events at the park, everything from concerts to fitness and nature programs to stargazing. Plan your visit to Dorothea Dix Park today.
Get Fit at Dix: Tidal Movement
Fall Jazz Brunch
Get Fit at Dix - Self-Defense
Hours
Dorothea Dix Park is open daily (including holidays) from dawn to dusk. Hours for events vary. Please note that areas of the park may be closed occasionally for maintenance or events.
Dix Park Dog Park
We heard from many community members that they desired a place to let their dogs run free while at the park, so we have transformed the former Athletic Field into a temporary dog park, open to the public seven days a week.
This facility provides a much needed off-leash dog area for park visitors, with all other areas of Dix Park requiring dogs to be on-leash. Learn more about the dog park at Dix Park and view the maintenance schedule below.
Getting to the Park
There are multiple entrances to Dorothea Dix Park. The most widely used entrances are Hunt Drive at Western Boulevard, South Boylan Avenue at Western Boulevard, Umstead Drive at Lake Wheeler Road, and Goode Street at Lake Wheeler Road. Because this is an active staff campus for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for the next few years, parking at Dorothea Dix Park is limited during business hours. On weekends, visitors may park in any of the parking areas striped green.
Accessibility
Dorothea Dix Park continues to work to be accessible and welcoming for visitors with disabilities and limited mobility. Accessible Parking with reserved spaces are available in all lots on campus. Handicap accessible port-a-johns are located at the Big Field and Flowers Field. Portions of Dorothea Dix Park, including some areas where programs and events occur, have uneven surfaces are not ADA accessible at this time.
Planning a visit to Dix Park and have questions about accessibility? Contact Joseph Voska, Programs and Operations Supervisor, at 919-996-6688 or joseph.voska@raleighnc.gov
Know Before You Go
Park Guidelines
You are welcome to…
- Enjoy the park, including the wide-open lawns, tree groves and other green spaces.
- Walk your dog, on a leash.
- Keep the park clean and green.
- Pack-in, pack-out a picnic.
Please be mindful that…
- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services administrative headquarters are located on park grounds. Please be respectful of the employees at work and avoid the buildings and parking areas during business hours.
- Over 900 people are buried at the cemetery. Please be respectful of this sacred ground.
- During this planning period, no water or concessions available in the park
- Be sure to bring a water bottle for yourself and your furry friends, too.
- There are no public restrooms at the park, only port-a-johns.
City Ordinances prohibit…
- Smoking in the park
- Digging, excavating or removing park property
- Alcohol use, except by permit
- Commercial activity, except by permit
- Drug use
- Not properly disposing of dog waste
- Off-leash dogs
If you are interested in flying a drone at the park...
- Drones are welcome in The Big Field
- Please refer to the City of Raleigh's Unmanned Aerial Systems (Drones) Guidelines in Raleigh Parks for more information.