12 WILD New Developments in Raleigh NC

I’m going to start with the attractions that have or are just about to open, then we’ll talk about the new announcements as well!  And we would love to hear from you in the comments which one you are most excited about!

Recently or About to Open Attractions

#1 – Downtown Cary Park

This attraction is the Downtown Cary Park, the crown jewel of Cary located in the center of downtown.  This 7 acre park just opened in late fall 2023, and has delivered upon all of it’s promises.

There are multiple playgrounds with iconic cardinal structures, a dog park with a bark bar that offers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy as you watch your dog play, a market offering more food and drink options, event space, and so much more.

The artwork and architecture of the park has been just as much an attraction as the park itself, with multiple, unique designs.  And its’ nightly glow events see the park lit up with a variety of light attractions highlighting the parks’ features.

#2 – Pleasant Park

Next up, Apex’s newly opened Pleasant Park has just about everything you need in a park.  The playground is the highlight of the park and is truly unique, advertised as an “Enchanted Forest with 9 inclusive play villages.”  The designers of the park did an amazing job giving these playgrounds character and building them within nature itself. 

In addition to the playground, it has top notch soccer facilities, both tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, and its’ Splashlantis Splash Pad will be opening this summer!

#3 – Baileywick Park

The next notable park on this list is the existing Baileywick Park in North Raleigh, which is getting quite an upgrade.  

The most obvious enhancement is the addition of a large, multi-use pavilion that will be used for sports, events, and more.  And the renovations also include a large dog park, which is a much needed addition for this area.  

The new facilities are waiting on final permits and are expected to be open this spring, 2024. 

#4 – Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center

Next up, did you know Raleigh had a mini indoor water park?  The Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center has just reopened after undergoing major renovations, and is really cool!

The Aquatic Center now has a three story slide for kids over 4’ to enjoy, a lazy river, water vortex feature, and a zero-entry area with fun water features for the younger kids.

While this is open year-round, it’s a great place to take the kids during the colder months!

#5 – Top Golf in RTP

And lastly, the Raleigh-Durham area is getting a Top Golf!  Located in the transforming Research Triangle Park, this facility will provide an amazing night out once opened in the coming months.

It will be three stories tall with over 100 all weather bays to hit from.  There will be a restaurant and bar, and have over 200 TVs that include a 28’ massive wall of displays.  There will also be a rooftop terrace with a firepit.  If you haven’t experienced Top Golf before, make sure to put it on your list once this opens!

Update on Parks Under Construction

#6 – Beech Bluff County Park

Let’s now briefly cover two parks that are currently under construction that will be great upgrades to the area’s park system.

Beech Bluff County Park is currently under construction in southern Wake County and is on track for a summer 2024 opening.

This 300 acre park’s goal is to preserve and celebrate nature, as much of the park will remain undeveloped with a large network of walking trails carved throughout the landscape.  This will be a great space for nature lovers to enjoy the outdoors.

#7 – Dix Park Gipson Play Plaza

The second update involves Raleigh’s marquee Dix Park and it’s new Gipson Play Plaza, which is currently on pace for a 2025 opening date. 

Raleigh is the last major US city to be able to build a destination park like Gipson Play Plaza this close to downtown, which between this park and Pullen Park, Raleigh is going to have some amazing spaces to enjoy. 

This new area of the park will feature a one-of-a-kind series of playground spaces that includes a sensory maze, water play mountain, swing terrace, and adventure playground.  There will be gardens to walk through, places to cookout and relax, and snack bar to grab something to eat.  

But perhaps the biggest announcement surrounding the Play Plaza as of late is the planned reconfiguring of the power line running across the new entrance.  Private donors are paying for these power line structures to be transformed into structures that look like sunflowers to honor Dix Park’s massive sunflower field, and will be an icon that will be admired from around the country.   

This is incredibly unique for power line structures as only a few like these existing in the country, such as Disney’s Mickey Mouse structure in Florida, and is a great partnership opportunity with Duke Energy.

Future Attractions

#8 – World’s Largest Racquet Sports Facility

Alright, let’s move into some very exciting future attractions!  

First up, the WORLD’S LARGEST racquet sports facility is coming to Northwest Raleigh!  Yes, I said World’s Largest, and it is going to put Raleigh on the map as one of the premiere racquet sports location in the country.  

There will be 28 tennis courts, 25 pickleball courts, 16 padel courts (mix of tennis & squash), 4 beach tennis/volleyball courts, a ping pong lounge, walking trails, and even restaurant and retail space.

This place is going to be massive, and will be amazing to have in Raleigh.  Construction is beginning this year and while the original plan was to have it complete in 2024, no specific time table has been communicated as of late. 

#9 – NC’s Largest Indoor Pickleball and Golf Facility

Sticking with the theme of racquet sports, the new PinPoint Facility located just south of Downtown Raleigh will be North Carolina’s largest indoor pickleball and golf facility.  So if you enjoy pickleball, Raleigh will have plenty of places to play!

With a planned opening in the summer of 2024, PinPoint will have 16 indoor pickleball courts, 8 indoor golf simulators, an indoor chipping and putting area, a pickleball and golf pro shop, and even a full-service bar.  This is really exciting for pickleball and golf lovers.

#10 – Dueling Dinosaurs Exhibit – Museum of Natural Sciences

Next up moves into museums, as the new Dueling Dinosaurs Exhibit at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Downtown Raleigh is setup to open in late April of this year!

This immersive experience is all about uncovering the mysteries of the triceratops and the tyrannosaurus rex, and you’ll find yourself in real paleontology and science labs that will continue the immersion into learning about these dinosaurs.

#11 – PNC Arena Entertainment District

Next up, one of the most ambitious projects in the area goes to the PNC Arena’s planned Entertainment District that will aim to turn the area just outside the home of the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State basketball stadium into a “mini-city.”  

The first phase of the billion dollar project will be completed within the next five years and include a number of restaurants, variety of retail options, residential units, a hotel, and even an indoor music venue that can host up to 5,000 people.  There will eventually even be a sports betting lounge.

This is Raleigh staying ahead of the trends as other arenas around the country are also looking to provide a similar, all-in-one experience.

#12 – Smoky Hollow Park in Downtown Raleigh

And the last future development is another exciting one that will bring a new park into Downtown Raleigh, the planned Smoky Hollow Park.

This park will be located on the north side of Downtown Raleigh, and will involve the restoration of the Pigeon House Branch, a creek that will run through the middle of the park and will serve as the centerpiece of the project.

There will be walking paths and gathering spaces that will highlight the extensive landscape and nature restoration that will take place in this park.  This will be a beautiful spot just north of the popular Glenwood South.

I hope you are as excited about these new developments as I am!  I will do more blogs as more exciting announcements are made, and please look out for our next blog on the many commercial and retail developments going on around Raleigh.

If you’re interested in learning more about Raleigh NC, check out our Raleigh blog page.

If you need any real estate assistance in the greater Raleigh area, please don’t hesitate to reach out as our team would love to help you.

Please reach out via our contact information below:

Phone:  919-504-5265

Email:  Alison@thewgroupraleigh.com

Website:  www.thewgroupraleigh.com