Gipson Play Plaza

BUDGET: $75M

Located along the southern edge of Dorothea Dix Park just minutes from downtown Raleigh, the 18.5-acre Gipson Play Plaza is a vibrant public destination designed for recreation, wellness, and community gathering. As the first phase of the Dix Park Master Plan, the park features inclusive play environments, water play, gardens, native prairies, civic and event spaces, and flexible areas for relaxation, all shaped through extensive public engagement. Distinctive elements include a Yates Mill-inspired Mill House, locally sourced Argillite stone walls, an immersive sensory hedge maze, a 20-foot waterfall and grotto, salvaged wood furnishings, public art, interpretive signage, and integrated stormwater systems that celebrate the site’s history and ecology.

MY ROLE: As Prime Consultant Project Manager, I led the project from contract negotiations through opening day, overseeing all phases of design, documentation, and construction administration. This included day-to-day coordination with clients, 20+ subconsultants, MVVA staff, contractors, and public stakeholders; management of schedules, budgets, and deliverables; oversight of technical drawing sets and quality control; and active involvement in site reviews, construction coordination, and design implementation to ensure the project vision was successfully realized through completion.

AWARDS

2026 #3 Best Public Playground, USA Today Reader's Choice Award

2026 Coverings Installation & Design (CID) Commercial Stone Design Award

2026 Grand Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies (NC Section)

2025 Downtown Raleigh Alliance Imprint Award