Help keep Raleigh parks clean via decorative stickers.
It can be easy being green—and urging Raleighites to help our green spaces stick around is Clean Advertising & Design’s recently launched Clean Parks Project. Giving Mother Nature some well-deserved attention, the campaign features creatively designed collectible stickers depicting identifiable features from a handful of parks in the City of Oaks—think Moore Square, John Chavis Memorial Park and Pullen Park—with all proceeds going directly toward the upkeep of these areas.
Inspired by parks they frequent proximal to their Boylan Heights office—think Dix, Fred Fletcher and Lenoir Street Park—Clean’s team sought to “adopt” the latter. “Working with the city parks department, we revitalized and beautified it for the community,” recalls Clean Designer Jon Parker.
That success led to a eureka moment—supporting local parks using their graphic design talents, says Parker. The campaign encourages parkgoers to deck out anything from bumpers to bottles in an attempt to rep the city’s primo picnic areas, nature walks, trails, etc., and support park maintenance.
Adds Head of Agency Lee Davis, “Our goal is to raise awareness of all of the wonderful parks here in Raleigh and to raise funds to support keeping them clean for all to enjoy.” As the project preaches, life without parks is definitely unimaginable. Amen to that! cleanparksproject.com
The views expressed in this rave are those of the author and do not purport or reflect the opinions of Raleigh Magazine.
Dear Raleigh,
When we were looking for a change of pace from out west and searching for a new place to live, I have to admit I had to ask a friend if I was pronouncing your name correctly. You were that new to me.
Fast-forward several months and here we are: moved in, making friends and basking in all the amazing things about this little gem of a city. As someone who has lived as an adult in five different cities (including Downunda!), Raleigh, you not only had me at hello—but you might have me for life.
You’re not just the best of both worlds, you’re the best of all worlds. You are location meets good climate. You’re near coasts and mountains, home to an abundance of scrumptious bakeries (Boulted Bread, be still my heart!) and coffee shops with eye-catching architectural details (hey, Heirloom), thought-provoking culture, and a seemingly never-ending array of weekend getaway opportunities. Your city is a perfect marriage of urban and greenery—plus good-hearted people.
While hopping in the car to go hiking through the mountains or to swim in the sea isn’t feasible for every weekend, I can definitely make do with the 100+ lakes here in town and the many trails nestled within Umstead State Park.
And then there’s the glorious rain! (Yes, rain.) As a transplant from a town that’s situated near year-round wildfires, the plentitude of rain feels worth its weight in gold. And I hope the humidity never stops working its voodoo reverse-aging magic on my skin, which has been dried out for decades.
If you need me, I’ll be out paddleboarding at our neighborhood lake and basking in the fact that snow here is rare, or having a drink on my porch while waving to my neighbors.
Forever yours,
New in Town
Got a Rant or Rave? Email it to [email protected] for consideration.
Fall weather + Great Trails State Day Oct. 21 = the perfect time to pull up your boots and hit the dusty trail.
Despite the cooling temps, you should no doubt stay on your hot girl/boy walk game. Sweaters, crunchy leaves and a chilly breeze… name a better way to spend a gorgeous fall day/weekend—we’ll wait (!). On Oct. 21, the Great Trails State Coalition, the same group behind NC’s Year of the Trail, is hosting its first annual Great Trails State Day—giving you all the more reason to take a stroll on one of Raleigh’s superb walking/hiking trails. Here, local trail picks for where your boots should be walkin’ this fall.
With 20 miles of hiking trails—NTM gorgeous lake views—this natural park paradise is a primo choice to get your nature on. For those really looking to get their steps, opt for the 7.2-mile Sycamore Trail, topping out as the park’s longest.
Art meets nature at the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, featuring installations by international artists along environmentally sustainable landscapes, gorgeous gardens, and miles of Greenway and wooded trails. Post-hike, find a cozy spot on the lawn to enjoy a picnic—or a nap (we aren’t judging).
For scenic river views, look no further than this attractive segment of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail feat. 27.5 miles of paved trail winding through wetlands, historical sights and agricultural fields.
A leisurely stroll awaits via 2 miles of paved scenic greenway trails around the lake—and further blow off steam on the basketball courts or by throwing a line off the dock or pedestrian bridges.
TLC said not to go chasing waterfalls, but do water-powered gristmills count? Either way, do it for the ’Gram—then make your way through the 174-acre park and wildlife refuge via trails ranging from 0.8 miles to 2 miles.
Choose your own adventure by taking either the paved greenway trail or natural surface trail, both looping the lake. And for primo sun-soaking, pop a squat near the dam and pack a picnic.
Designated as a Nature Preserve in 2010, Durant park boasts 5 miles of trails for exploring the park’s 237 acres of streams, lakes, hardwood and pine forests, wetlands, lakes, and more. Mountain biking and fishing are also permitted.
Life’s too short not to play. Activating Raleigh’s kiddos and kids at heart is the highly anticipated Conlon Family Skatepark and a “pocket park,” both of which opened just in the nick of time for summer. The former project—from the minds of Skate Raleigh—is temporarily located at Smoky Hollow Park, between Capital Boulevard and Peace Street, and features open spaces fit for all kinds of wheeled sports—from skateboarding and scootering to roller-skating and biking. Meanwhile, Raleigh’s largest urban park, Dix Park, unveiled “Raleigh’s smallest park” in June. A collab between Dix Park, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Artsplosure and local installation artist Katie Stewart, the mini respite is parked in front of artist Gabriel Eng-Goetz’s Dix Park mural on the corner of Hillsborough and West Street by Roast Grill and State of Beer. So if you’re looking for a pocketful of sunshine and/or shred seshes this summer, you know where to go.
Raleigh’s largest urban park presents Raleigh’s smallest park.
Need a mini respite from the Downtown hustle and bustle? Dix Park, Downtown Raleigh Alliance and Artsplosure—along with local installation artist, photographer and art director Katie Stewart—have teamed up to design a miniature park and art establishment Downtown debuting June 9 (!).
“Raleigh’s smallest park” will be, ahem, parked in front of the Dix Park mural on the corner of Hillsborough and West Street by Roast Grill and State of Beer. And, rest assured, its inaugural ribbon-cutting is intended to be as “campy” as possible, according to Dix Park Conservancy’s Community Engagement Manager Trey Roberts—think tiny scissors and shovels as part of the festivities, naturally.
The urban oasis’ focal point, a mural made by Gabriel Eng-Goetz in September 2022 depicting Dix Park, has been expanded on by Stewart with an engaging 3D art experience feat. sculpted mushroom seats, huge sunflower suncatchers and topiaries made with repurposed materials and nodding to the natural beauty and cultural significance of Dix Park (and adding a splash of color and pizzazz to the spot!). … Pro tip: It also makes for an excellent photo op! #DoItForTheGram
“This installation reimagines his themes and color schemes in a three-dimensional, interactive context,” says Stewart. “It welcomes visitors of all ages, cultivating engagement and imagination with art and fostering connections within the community while paying tribute to Dorothea Dix Park’s past, embracing its present energy and projecting its future as a creative communal hub.”
She adds: “This small park nestled in Downtown Raleigh is an illustration of art’s inclusive and transformative power. It presents a unique space for reflection, connection and inspiration to be enjoyed by all.” Sounds like a fresh spot to keep in your back pocket!
