Spring Programs
We are excited to welcome you back to the park for a full line-up of free outdoor programs - along with indoor classes in the newly renovated chapel. Join us for Yoga in the Park, Preschool programs, Art classes, Youth yoga, Tai Chi, Birdwatching and more!
New Historical Signage
Our first historical signs have been installed at Dix Park! From Indigenous land, to plantation to mental health hospital and beyond, explore the park's rich legacy next time you visit. View our Visitor Map to find the nine history sign locations.
Summer Youth Conservation Corps
Conservation Corps North Carolina is hosting the Raleigh Youth Crew at Dix Park this summer. Teens get paid to work on trail maintenance and construction, habitat restoration, forestry, and park improvement projects.
Enjoy the nature and tranquility of Dix Park with a yoga class to increase strength and flexibility. All fitness levels welcome! This program is free thanks to Dix Park Conservancy donors.
Find your inner calm and balance with Tai Chi in beautiful Dix Park. All fitness levels welcome! This program is free thanks to Dix Park Conservancy donors.
Instructor: Tish Oakley
Learn about the resident and migrant birds of Dix Park and sharpen your bird identification skills as we practice birding by sight and by ear to prepare for spring migration.
Instructor: Deja Perkins, Naturally Wild
Visit the Park
Getting to Dix 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.
Hours
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.