Dix Park — Attraction in Raleigh

My Grandkids (4 and 6 years old) came for a visit. I decided to try the water play now that it is open.

I know I gave it 4 stars because I'm being generous because it's new. Signage was bad. I had arranged for some help to come with us. She parked in a lot probably a mile away. I first parked in a lot I wasn't sure about.

We did well coming early. The water play is fun and educational. Lots of things for all ages. It started getting busy at noon and we were ready to leave.

The bathroom facilities are brilliant. Great for families.

I should have taken a kids cart to carry things. You do need to bring all your stuff. And if you have multiple kids and multiple ages, be prepared to separate. The picnic area is nice, but the rocks are hot and sharp. And the surfaces of slides and walkways are hot.

They also had workers working on rocks, cutting walls within 3 feet of kids play. They tried to tape off an area, but cutting rocks was throwing rock dust and probably unsafe. They were using a portable power supply to power the big rock /concrete saw.

The big water and sand space that was full of water that most kids enjoyed playing in started to dry up by the time we left around noon.

I would definitely go again and believe they will continue to make this environment safer, more fun, easier to find. Kudos for the beginning of a great idea needing to improve in...

First, I want to say that the park is beautiful and it's good that the public has a place to enjoy like this. I have one thing that is keeping this review from being 5 stars, and it's going to be a bit too sentimental for a lot of people to relate to. it just breaks my heart that the hospital building, built in the 1800s and the first psychiatric facility in this state, ceasing throwing psychiatric patients into jails to be forgotten, hasn't been used as a historic site to memorialize what Dorothea Dix did for the people of this state for 154 years. It's sad to drive through and see that the only historic landmark is the cemetery, which isn't well maintained. The plots of the people who couldn't have a large headstone are quite overgrown and invested with fire ants, and there's very little available that memorializes the countless people who lived on the property, or remembrances of the amazing things that were on the property like a farm, market, and multiple staff living quarters. It's sad enough the place got shut down for money, this place should have at least been turned into a historic museum. Dorothea Dix and her mission, and the patients of the hospital deserve better. Hopefully one day they will consider this. Don't let history...

Love the new playplace! The park is large and inviting. The restrooms are clean and well designed for families. The café provides many snack options. My one suggestion would be to expand their ice cream selection for the summer. There were some issues with the water pump at the splash pad, but they were quickly fixed. There were plenty of spaces for families to picnic. The sensory garden maze was fun. There were plenty of staff on site to provide information, and they were all friendly and helpful. The park had a staffed first aid station, which I also appreciated. Lots of water fountains with bottle fillers throughout the park. This park is a good choice on hot days due to the water features. We will definitely be coming back! Excited to add this park to our rotation.

The parking situation has some kinks that need to be worked out. Clearer signage at entrances directing drivers to play place parking would be helpful. Today staff were on site to direct traffic, but I'm not sure that will always be available. Having more parking spaces close to the play area would be nice, but may not be possible given existing structures...