Annual Report Raleigh Parks 2023 2024
Letter from the Director
I am excited to share our 2023-2024 Annual Report. The department’s mission is “Together We Connect and Enrich our Community Through Exceptional Experiences.” As you read through this report, you will see the exceptional work the department is doing with our community and partners.
Last year, I shared the exciting news of our successful bond referendum. I am proud to announce that we have already commenced work on 17 of the 22 approved bond projects. This is a testament to our commitments to active engagement and planning with the community. We are also increasing our investment in native habitats, including pollinators, and transitioning our equipment and vehicles to electric, reducing our reliance on petroleum-based fuels. As the Raleigh region continues to grow, our staff provides programs and events that reflect the evolving needs of our community. Our participation numbers in camps, leagues, and athletics tournaments are either at or above our pre-pandemic levels, showcasing our resilience and adaptability.
I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our staff and local partners to create a more inclusive, diverse, and resilient parks, recreation, and cultural resources system. This past year, we launched the process to update our Park System Plan. At the core of this plan will be a focus on health equity in Raleigh. Our goals will ensure all community members have equitable access to activities, programs, and facilities that support environmentally, physically, mentally, and socially healthy lifestyles.
In closing, I would like to thank the department’s fantastic staff. They work nights, weekends, and holidays, rain or shine, so our community can enjoy this great system. Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who work tirelessly to support us in so many ways, including our passionate Board and Commission Members. We appreciate the collective support of our vision from the City Manager’s Office and Raleigh City Council.
Sincerely,
Stephen C. Bentley, Director Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
Health & Wellness
Mental Health Check-In Programs
The Health and Wellness Programs team partnered with the Jordan Porco Foundation and local community health providers to offer mental health check-ins at Marsh Creek Community Center. During the program, attendees discussed various mental health topics, learned effective coping strategies, and connected with community resources.
Health and Wellness Day
In partnership with the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, John Chavis Memorial Park hosted Health and Wellness Day. This family-friendly event featured mental health exhibits, physical fitness classes, and wellness information. Participants also enjoyed healthy food options at various food trucks on-site.
Fall Health and Wellness Fair
Marsh Creek Community Center partnered with various health and wellness providers to host its second annual Fall Health and Wellness Fair. The event included more than 30 vendors, fresh produce giveaways, cooking demonstrations, flu shots, depression screenings, and program demonstrations.
Barwell Community Garden
The Barwell Community Action team partnered with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to facilitate a community-building event to complete phase one of the City’s first community garden project. The team built 12 raised garden beds and eight planter boxes and planted and harvested a wide variety of produce, including lettuce, beets, and herbs. Staff then distributed the fresh produce to the local Barwell community.
pThe Barwell Community Action team partnered with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to facilitate a community-building event. The team built 12 raised garden beds and eight planter boxes and planted and harvested a wide variety of produce.
Equity & Inclusion
Raleigh Parks System Plan Updates
The System Plan has been updated, with a renewed focus on public health outcomes along the dimensions of individual well-being, social cohesion, environmental resilience, and organizational strategics.
Trolley Tours – Celebrating Black History, Jewish History, and LGBTQ Community
Mordecai Historic Park worked with different communities throughout Raleigh to develop and offer the Black History, Jewish History, and Pride Ride Trolley tours. These tours celebrated the impact of these historically underrepresented communities and shared their unique and powerful stories with riders.
• Riders took a journey to uncover Raleigh’s Jewish heritage and history starting with Moses Mordecai, the namesake of Mordecai Historic Park and the first Jewish man recorded to live in Raleigh. They explored the buildings, sites, and lives of those who built Raleigh’s Jewish community.
• The Black History Trolley Tour celebrated Black History Month and allowed riders to learn more about the historic homes, schools, churches, and businesses important to the capital’s Black history.
• During the Pride Ride LGBTQ+ Trolley Tour, participants viewed historic locations, neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and other points of interest important to the evolution of the local LGBTQ+ community.
pJohn Chavis Memorial Park hosted Juneteenth Jubilee, which included five days of events leading up to the weekend before Juneteenth.
Black History Month Celebration and Juneteenth Jubilee
John Chavis Memorial Park hosted Juneteenth Jubilee, which included five days of events leading up to the weekend before Juneteenth. The events ranged from educational presentations on the history of the holiday to family-friendly games. For Black History Month, we held ten free events that honored the achievements, history, and heritage of African American leaders and innovators. Some of these events included Black History Month trivia, Black Inventor’s Workshop for Kids, and a presentation on the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Financial Assistance Program
The Financial Assistance Program awarded $160,000 to 1,280 individuals (614 families). Staff attended 87 events across the community, showcasing the program’s impact on community engagement and the diverse range of activities offered throughout the department. Popular event topics included how to buy a home with Self-Help Credit Company, register a child for school and camps, and jobs in the hotel management field. New this year is the Learn & Earn program, where families receiving financial assistance can attend four weeks of computer programming instruction. All participants receive a laptop from the Kramden Institute after completing the program.
p“Welcome to Raleigh Parks” (WRP), designed to introduce community members to the variety of programs and resources our department offers in an inclusive, welcoming, and community-building format.
Trust for Public Land Partnerships
Welcome to Raleigh
Raleigh Parks received a $25,000 On Common Ground grant from the Trust for Public Land in 2023 - one of only nine municipalities nationwide to be selected. The On Common Ground grant aims to enhance the role of parks in fostering community by promoting interactions between diverse social groups. In the Fall of 2023, we launched a new pilot program called “Welcome to Raleigh Parks” (WRP), designed to introduce community members to the variety of programs and resources our department offers in an inclusive, welcoming, and community-building format. The first WRP program involved a cohort of 24 participants. It included seven sessions: fishing, ceramics, a trolley tour, a community meal, futsal, gardening, and a special event at Moore Square.
Park Equity Accelerator
Raleigh Parks was selected as one of nine U.S. cities to participate in the Trust for Public Land’s Park Equity Accelerator, a technical assistance grant program that supports accessible park access and experiences throughout the country. Raleigh Parks uses this program to align our level-of-service metrics, investment strategies, and development policies with national best practices and standards.
Peach Road Cultural Center Programs and Events
• The Children’s Day Event in Moore Square, honoring the holiday of Día de los niños, was provided in partnership with the Mexican Consulate and the Spanish-language broadcasting station, La Ley. This was a day to celebrate the spirit of childhood and the families of Raleigh with sports, crafts, live performances, food, and lots of fun.
• In partnership with the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, the Eid Dinner event and crafting series was co-created by community members and featured decorations hand-made by participants, and Halal food to enjoy with neighbors while marking the end of Ramadan.
• With coaching and support from First Touch Soccer and the Raleigh Police Department, the Striker Soccer Clinic at Peach Road focused on soccer shooting and finishing skills and techniques, while providing mentorship and a special opportunity for youth in the community to receive expert instruction free of charge.
pRaleigh Parks received a $25,000 On Common Ground grant from the Trust for Public Land in 2023 – one of only nine municipalities nationwide to be selected.
Conservation
Pollinator Protection Program
Pollinators and pollinator habitats help sustain our food system and our ecosystem. One out of every three bites of food we eat is made possible by pollinators like bees, birds, and butterflies. Protecting pollinator species and habitat is essential to a sustainable food system and to addressing climate change.
• The Wildlife and Pollinator Program shares information and resources about pollinator protection and pollinator habitats in parks across the community.
• Our Monarch Waystation Program supports migrating monarch butterflies.
• Invasive Species programs encourage volunteers to remove non-native species from our parks and other properties to allow native plants to thrive and support pollinator species.
Solar Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Raleigh Parks has had the opportunity to partner with Raleigh Fleet Services to provide electric vehicle charging stations to the public at Anderson Point and Brier Creek Park. These stations provide opportunities for the public to charge their electric vehicles while using park and greenway facilities.
Bailey Drive Gateway Project
The National Park Service announced that the City of Raleigh would receive grant funding from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program to create the Bailey Drive Gateway at Walnut Creek Wetland Park. We have partnered with the Conservation Fund, Walnut Creek Wetland Partners, and the Water Resources Research
Institute to provide improvements to the park, such as:
• Interpretive art highlighting neighborhood history.
• A community gathering space.
• Pedestrian access to Walnut Creek Wetland Park from the Rochester
All About Seeds
Kiwanis Park’s Earth Day event was full of kid-friendly fun. Participants started by inspecting and trying different fruits and vegetables to see the different kinds of seeds we find in the food we eat. They also learned about seeds, painted pots, and planted seeds in compostable starter pots to take home.
pIn partnership with We Plant it Forward’s Arbor Day, Dix Park celebrated Earth Day with over 2,500 attendees. Heights neighborhood.
Earth Day
Raleigh Earth Day at Dix Park
In partnership with We Plant it Forward’s Arbor Day, Dix Park celebrated Earth Day with over 2,500 attendees. The event began with a traditional welcome and land blessing from David Rahahę•tih Webb of the Tuscarora community. Activities included Native American earth dances, a shredding event in partnership with Solid Waste Services, tree dedication ceremony, and an outdoor showing of The Lorax
A Plastic Ocean
In recognition of Earth Day’s 2024 theme, “Planet vs. Plastics,” four facilities - Abbott’s Creek Community Center, Anne Gordon Center for Active Adults, Five Points Center for Active Adults, and Lake Lynn Community Center - showed a free screening of A Plastic Ocean. The award-winning film highlights workable technologies and innovative solutions that everyone - from governments to individuals - can do to create a cleaner and greener ocean.
Strategic Partnerships & Community Outreach
Latta University Historic Park Dedication
Raleigh Parks celebrated the opening of Latta University Historic Park in April. Latta University Historic Park contributes to a rich history that deepens our understanding of African American life in Raleigh around the 20th century. Friends of Oberlin Village also hosted their 10th Annual Celebrate Oberlin event following the dedication ceremony.
Grants
The City of Raleigh has secured a $1 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service, through the Arbor Day Foundation. This grant will be used for the care and maintenance of existing trees, the removal of hazardous trees, and the planting of new trees across the community. These efforts are in line with our Strategic Plan goals, which include mitigating urban heat islands, managing stormwater, and
pThe Lake Wheeler Invitational is co-sponsored by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University women’s rowing programs. Eighteen collegiate teams traveled to Raleigh to compete.
enhancing climate resilience. This funding is a critical investment in improving Raleigh’s green infrastructure. Additionally, we received $308,625 in funding from the Dix Park Conservancy to support the operating budget for Dix Park.
Collegiate Rowing Efforts
The Lake Wheeler Invitational is co-sponsored by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University women’s rowing programs. 18 collegiate teams from Boston College, Boston University, Clemson, Duke, Georgetown, Iowa, Alabama, Kansas, Louisville, Miami, NAVY, Syracuse, University of Central Florida, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tennessee, Tulsa, Penn, and Washington State University traveled to Raleigh to compete in April.
The 24th annual Atlantic Coast Conference Rowing Championship was held on in May at Lake Wheeler. The event was co-sponsored by UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University, ACC, Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, and the
City of Raleigh. All races were featured live on ACC Network Extra. Competing teams included Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Syracuse, Louisville, Miami, UNC, Notre Dame, and Virginia. Combined, the two Lake Wheeler women’s collegiate rowing events in April and May served 10,000 patrons over four days.
Dream Moore Sunday Market and Final Friday Fitness
The Dream Moore Market is a weekly event running every Sunday from June through August in Moore Square. This market is a collaboration between Raleigh Parks, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, and Black Flea Market, designed to highlight Black-owned businesses, local crafts, and food. The partnership aims to celebrate diversity, support local entrepreneurs, and foster community spirit in Downtown Raleigh.
The Final Friday Fitness and Food Truck series takes place on the last Friday of every month from May through October. This fun, family-friendly event blends fitness with festivity, featuring a different free workout each month led by local fitness
experts. Attendees can enjoy Raleigh’s finest food trucks and local vendors, a free fitness session, and live music from local artists.
Marketing Ambassador Program
The Raleigh Parks Marketing Ambassador Program directly connects parks to people, and people to parks, through smiling faces and meaningful conversation. Our ambassadors engaged with nearly 37,000 community members and made significant connections with over 4,000 individuals. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), we intentionally reach every subsection of the city. Equity in access to and knowledge of parks, greenways, and recreation programs is essential to every person’s well-being, and the Marketing Ambassador Program has been a vital and beloved tool in furthering our mission.
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pRaleigh Teen Zones and Teen Connect Program
Teen Zones are dedicated to creating safe and diverse environments for teens across the community and are designed to empower youth, foster creativity, and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. During the school year, attendees have access to free recreational activities focused on health and wellness, mental and social wellbeing, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and music.
The Teen Connect Program is designed to further connect teens to the City of Raleigh’s programs, facilities, events, amenities, and resources. This is an opportunity for our teens to participate in classes, special events, field trips, and leadership and service learning opportunities.
Raleigh Youth Council
With a dedicated team of over 65 teens, Raleigh Youth Council successfully completed numerous service projects and hosted monthly drives to support various local organizations. The group of teens were even honored with awards for best service project and best scrapbook.
The City of Oaks Foundation provided financial assistance through the Give Play program so 110 families could enjoy our summer camps and recreational programs
Kindness in Motion Campaign
In May/June 2024, the “Kindness in Motion” campaign promoted greenway safety with an emphasis on respecting others around you. Marketing ambassadors met over 300 greenway visitors, rewarding clear examples of good greenway behavior with “Caught Being Kind” stickers. Additional reminders of proper rules and etiquette were posted on over 50 yard signs placed throughout Raleigh’s greenway system.
Dix Park Conservancy
The Dix Park Conservancy has continued to support the City of Raleigh in the development of Dix Park. This year marked the opening of the Stone Houses project, which included the renovation of three historic houses and the construction of a new accessible pathway connecting the Rocky Branch Greenway to the hilltop. This project was generously funded by the State Employee Credit Union and the SECU Foundation.
Lights Out Wake
Each year, billions of birds migrate to their wintering or summering grounds under the cover of darkness from predators. These birds rely on the stars to get to their destination, but urban light pollution can stress the birds enough to the point of illness or death. In 2015, Wake Audubon Society and the City of Raleigh partnered to adopt the first Lights Out program in North Carolina for municipal buildings. This program has encouraged the community to participate in efforts such as turning off exterior lighting, closing blinds and curtains at night, and taking the Lights Out Pledge.
City of Oaks Foundation
The City of Oaks Foundation provided financial assistance through the Give Play program so 110 families could enjoy our summer camps and recreational programs. The Foundation piloted a new program, Roots2STEM, which funded additional opportunities related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics-based summer camps and after-school programs. We sponsored funding projects and events such as the Wake County Senior Games, Skate Raleigh’s temporary skate park, and planting one hundred trees in northeast Raleigh to improve climate resiliency. The Foundation raised tens of thousands of dollars through other partnerships to support Raleigh’s Growth and Natural Resources Key Focus Area.
Arts & Cultural Programming
World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day recognizes the courage and resilience of refugees worldwide. In June, we hosted a vibrant celebration to honor and educate the community about refugees’ experiences. The event featured local vendors, food trucks, field games, and a soccer clinic. There was a graduation celebration for local refugees, a teen poetry reading and youth dance performance, and a Caique Vidal & Batuque performance showcasing Bahia, Brazil’s rich Afro-Brazilian musical traditions.
Water Safety Programming and Women-Only Swim Time
The Aquatics Department and the Cultural Outreach and Enrichment Program partnered to host two women-only swim programs. This initiative emphasizes the critical importance of water safety and aims to empower women with essential swimming skills and culturally appropriate access to water activities. One of our programs in May featured in-water swim clinics and Spanish interpretation. These programs provided a safe and supportive learning environment, promoting physical well-being and community building.
Day of the Dead
Raleigh Arts and the City of Raleigh Museum (COR Museum) partnered with the Consulado General De Mexico en Raleigh to exhibit Mexican artist José Luis Martinez Pasillas’ sculpture “La Catrina” in coordination with Day of the Dead events and Casa Aguascalientes Chicago. “La Catrina” is an iconic symbol of the Mexican Day of the Dead tradition. Casa Aguascalientes Chicago commissioned the artwork to travel to different cities to raise awareness about Mexican art, culture, and the Day of the Dead tradition.
Art Programming
573 artists participated in 35 exhibitions in the Block Gallery at the Raleigh Municipal Building and the Pullen and Sertoma Arts Center Galleries.
16 pieces of artwork were accessioned into the Municipal Art Collection, Raleigh’s collection of more than 600 fine, public, and educational art objects.
There were 329 classes and workshops at Pullen Arts Center and 321 in the studios at Sertoma Art Center.
The Nature Preserves Artist Residency focuses on City of Raleigh Nature Preserves (Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park, Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve, and Durant Nature Preserve. This one-year residency was designed for artists interested in environmental stewardship.
RALEIGH PARKS SPECIAL EVENTS
HOLIDAY EXPRESS
Holiday Express served over 30,000 guests this past December. This year’s event featured our first Sensory Friendly night, offering a comfortable atmosphere for individuals with sensory needs. Visitors were able to enjoy the event with lower decibel music, decreased capacity, no strobe lights, and access to a quiet area to decompress from sensory overload.
DREAMVILLE
Over 50,000 attendees gathered on April 6-7 to watch 20 of the world’s biggest musical artists, including 50 Cent, SZA, Nicki Minaj, and J. Cole. Now in its fourth year, Dreamville has given back to the community by donating towards various non-profits, including the Dix Park Conservancy.
FAMILY SNEAKER BALL
Families across Raleigh got to show off their sneaker game at Sneaker Ball, hosted by Green Road Community Center. Adults and children alike enjoyed a night of dancing and even a balloon pit and 360 Degree Photo Booth to capture plenty of memories.
Investing in the Community
Bond Project Efforts
The voter-approved $275 million 2022 Parks Bond includes projects that continue to provide the Raleigh community with healthy park and recreation opportunities for everyone to enjoy. This bond referendum focuses on evolving community priorities, social equity, and pandemic recovery.
Top Greene Community Center Improvements
The project is currently undergoing a community engagement process. Potential proposed improvements include the addition of an archive room, interior renovation with historic interpretive display, enhanced building entry, heritage walk elements, outdoor gathering areas such as garden, porch, patio and memorial spaces, and stormwater improvement.
Neuse River and Kyle Drive ParkMaster Plan and Updates
Through the 2022 Parks Bond, funding was allocated for the design, planning, and construction of Kyle Drive and Neuse River Parks. Both currently undeveloped properties show unique natural features and recreational opportunities. These include a wetland and opportunities for edible landscaping and walking trails at Kyle Drive, as well as scenic views of the river, hiking trails, and features to enhance river access and recreation at Neuse River Park.
Method Community Center Updates
As part of the 2022 Parks Bond Referendum, the Berry O’Kelly/Harveleigh White Community Center and the Pioneers Building at Method Community Park will undergo renovations to repair and improve building envelopes, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems,
as well as improve accessibility in the buildings and on park grounds. This project is in the initial design and community engagement phase, and construction is set to begin in 2026.
Baileywick Park Improvements
Funded by the 2014 Parks Bond Referendum, Baileywick Park underwent renovations to include an open-air multi-use pavilion, which the community celebrated the opening of in June with a POUND Fitness class and plenty of pickleball and basketball. Other improvements include a partially wooded, fenced dog park with buffer/screening planting, expanded parking, general landscape enhancements, renovations to the existing restroom and picnic shelter, as well as a non-regulated stormwater quality device.
Capital Maintenance Efforts
This was the third fiscal year of one cent equivalent of property tax for deferred park maintenance. Completed projects included greenway improvements at Trenton Road and Crabtree Creek West trails, renovation of playgrounds at Spring Park and Glen Eden Pilot Park, and general facility improvements at Green Road Park, Theater in the Park, and the Latta University House. One of the most significant projects that was completed this year was the large-scale renovations at Laurel Hills Community Center, including gym floor replacement and various drainage and electrical upgrades.
Funded by the 2014 Parks Bond Referendum, Baileywick Park underwent renovations including a partially wooded, fenced dog park, expanded parking, and renovations to the existing restroom and picnic shelter.
By the Numbers
BUDGET
The Raleigh Parks 2023-2024 Operating budget is $67.4M
The FY24 Capital Improvement budget is $8.1M
n Recreation
$26,147,734
n Parks/Grounds
$24,322,019
n Resources
$12,427,498
n
$4,546,052
GRANT FUNDING
Raleigh Arts currently manages $2.59 million in annual grant awards and multi-year hybrid funding lease agreements that support 38 arts and cultural organizations. As part of the Arts Partner Program, Raleigh Arts also provides capacity building programs for non-profits and oversees the Learning Community for Arts and Disability, supporting 11 cohort members from arts and cultural organizations. From citywide festivals like First Night Raleigh to exhibitions, concerts, and theatre productions, this grant funding makes sure there is something creative for everyone
How much Art grant funding Raleigh Parks has provided: $2,590,333
How much grant funding Raleigh Parks has received: $1,308,625
Get Connected with Raleigh Parks
Get Connected with Raleigh Parks
Raleigh Parks embraces social media to keep community members engaged and to help us stay informed about what matters to them. We look at social media as a customer service tool, allowing us to interact with citizens, receive feedback, and share information.
Park Locator’s New Look
The GIS team introduced a fresh, newly designed Park Locator tool that continues to support community connectedness The Park Locator tool is a web-based mapping application, which allows park-goers to search for parks both geographically or through more than 40 amenity filters that help target a variety of park features, such as dog parks,
Our online social media community has grown to 62,513
19,500 X Followers
19,000 Facebook Followers
443 Pinterest Followers
770 YouTube Subscribers
22,800 Instagram Followers
72,469 GovDelivery Subscribers
Join the Conversation
Have a question about the parks? Ask us. Have a shoutout about something fun in the parks? Tell us.
Boards & Commissions
PARKS, RECREATION & GREENWAY
ADVISORY BOARD
Carol Ashcraft
Iain Burnett
Beverley Clark
Kate Dixon
Bob Edgerton
Gregory Etheridge
Hugh Fuller
Jeff Havener
Douglas Johnston
Rashawn King
Shangwen Liu
April Love
Chris Pereira
Marsha Presnell-Jennette
Kara Strang
ARTS COMMISSION
Mary Silver, Chair
Toni Gadsden, Vice-Chair
Aurelia Belfield
Jay Campbell
Juan Isler
Eliza Kiser
Clodough Lyons-Bastion
David Moore
Jessica Todd-Marrone
Billy Warden
Greg Whitt
Carl Wilkins
HISTORIC RESOURCES & MUSEUM PROGRAM
ADVISORY BOARD
Wanda Cox-Bailey
Paul Brinkman
Dana Deaton
Ajamu Dillahunt-Holloway
Jane Forde
Clarissa Goodlett
Jenny Harper
John Hinshaw
Lucinda MacKethan
Audrey Morgan
Edna Rich-Ballentine
Jeff Havener
CITY OF RALEIGH
HISTORIC CEMETERY
ADVISORY BOARD
Amy Fix, Chair
Michael Dunn, Vice-Chair
Caleb Smith
Allyson Kuegel
Chantelle Miles
Connie Crumpler
Keith Pakela
PUBLIC ART & DESIGN BOARD
Linda Dallas, Chair
Angela Lombardi, Vice-Chair
Vershae Hite
Derek Ham
Angela Lombardi
Phillip Jefferson
Jackie Turner
DIX PARK LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
Mary-Ann Baldwin, Chair
Orage Quarles, Vice-Chair
Bill Ross, Vice-Chair
Corey Branch
Jim Goodmon
Nancy McFarlane
Carlton Midyette
Beverley Clark
Ashton Fisher
Stephen Bentley
Tansy Hayward
Alicia Knight
David Smith
