Balfour Beatty and Holt Brothers Deliver Landmark Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park

RALEIGH, N.C. — A joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Holt Brothers Construction has completed the Gipson Play Plaza at Dorothea Dix Park, delivering a dynamic and inclusive play space that now stands as the largest adventure playground in the Southeast. The 18.5-acre plaza marks the centerpiece of Phase 1 of the Dix Park Master Plan, transforming the historic 308-acre site into a vibrant public destination for residents of all ages and abilities.

The project is a major milestone for Raleigh, combining complex engineering, architectural craftsmanship, and a deep commitment to community-oriented design.

Innovative Construction Meets Imaginative Design

“This project exemplifies what’s possible when innovative construction techniques meet visionary design,” said Jeff Sandeen, President of Balfour Beatty’s Carolinas division. “Our team’s ability to adapt and problem-solve in real-time, from delivering complex soil integration to stonework, demonstrates the depth of expertise that our joint venture brings to transformative community park projects. We are proud of our project teammates and industry partners who leveraged their extensive experience to make the Gipson Play Plaza a reality in Raleigh.”

Overcoming a variety of site challenges, including underground utility mapping and strategic powerline relocation in collaboration with Duke Power, the team used drone imaging and photomosaic integration to avoid conflicts and keep construction moving efficiently.

Intricate Play Zones and Unmatched Detail

The plaza features 10 custom-designed play zones, each with a unique identity and engineering complexity. Among the most ambitious:

• Fountain Plaza’s stone archway and ceiling, constructed with hand-cut stone and supported by custom cribbing systems behind a waterfall.
• Slide Valley’s multi-story climbing towers and underground slide, requiring specialized excavation and waterproofing.
• Watermill Mountain and Sand Bowl, offering interactive water and sand play systems.
• Swing Terrace, featuring a 91-foot swing engineered to manage dynamic loads with panoramic views of the Raleigh skyline.

The team used mechanical aeration to blend new materials with existing site soils, eliminating costly excavation while staying on schedule and within budget.

A Lasting Space for the Community

For Holt Brothers Construction, the project was personal. “The Gipson Play Plaza is more than just another project for our team,” said Jonte Harris, Senior Project Manager. “Parks have become one of my favorite project types because they’re built to grow and serve communities for many years to come. This is a space that I’m proud to have played a major part in building, and I love knowing it can be enjoyed by people of all ages for generations. This project truly has something for everyone — it’s a hybrid park that I’ve had the privilege of watching evolve from concept to design to reality.”

Accessibility and Community in Every Corner

The design prioritizes universal accessibility, with ADA-compliant paths connecting every major zone. Additional features include:

• A Sensory Maze with interactive hedges.
• The Picnic Grove, with tables made from reclaimed wood from the Dix Park site.
• The House of Many Porches, market areas, and a Kitchen Garden.
• Ten accessible restroom cabanas with changing stations.
• The Woodland Garden, offering a quiet, reflective natural space.

City Leadership Praises Vision and Execution

“We’re so excited to celebrate the opening of this extensive play plaza for all of Raleigh, and the significant milestone in the planned development of Dix Park,” said Stephen C. Bentley, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources for the City of Raleigh. “Gipson Play Plaza was a grand vision of imagination, and it required a construction partner with strong knowledge, commitment, and creativity in problem solving to become reality.”

This project builds on the successful partnership between Balfour Beatty and Holt Brothers, who have previously delivered other key civic and education projects across the region, including the Southeast Raleigh YMCA and North Carolina Central University’s Student Center.

The Gipson Play Plaza is now open to the public and stands as a lasting investment in Raleigh’s future. To learn more, visit: dixpark.org/gipsonplayplaza.

Originally reported by Balfour Beatty.