"A park for everyone, built by everyone."

That is the motto of Dorothea Dix Park, at 308 acres and located in the heart of Raleigh, it stands as the city’s largest park. Enjoy a sunset picnic with views of the city skyline or bring your furry friend and play catch at the off-leash dog park, with plenty of acreage the park has something for everyone who visits!

With wide-open lawns and green spaces, the park offers a great opportunity for families to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities. After 150 years as Dorothea Dix Hospital, the recently acquired land by the city makes it a park on the brink of becoming something incredible! The City of Raleigh as well as Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy are currently working together to develop the area into a destination site as one of the largest urban parks. 

Drones are acceptable at The Big Field portion of the park located by the Williams Parking Lot. It is a mass area of green space. This area is also perfect for a frisbee game or to simply sit and enjoy the outdoors. The paved paths make it suitable for jogging or dog walking and the former Athletic Field has a 4- acre space designated as a dog park where you can unleash your pups! The park offers several community events throughout the year including movie nights, kid-friendly nature programs and guided tours of the area so be sure and check the community calendar of what is happening before your visit!