You got photo-bombed!
You are a saint and a scholar
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Does anyone know whether or not the Conservancy has selected a contractor for their accessibility improvement project? Their website says that they want the work to be completed by the end of the year.
Sunflowers are blooming, but this crop is really, really short. Nonetheless, they are a joy to see.
Bonus shot of the bees’ shag house.
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Here’s an article from the Washington Post about the guy who is doing the trolls for Dix Park. The article doesn’t mention the Raleigh project specifically, but goes pretty in depth on some of his other projects. Interesting background reading.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/07/09/thomas-dambo-trash-troll-artist/
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Maybe we can get a giant fox squirrel with an acorn…
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If you want some audio updates on what’s happening at Dix, check out my interview with Janet Cowell!
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Any updates? 
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well no, but i do have this!
Janet Cowell Prepares to Step Down as Dix Park Conservancy President and CEO
Former board chair Orage Quarles to serve as interim CEO as search process proceeds
(RALEIGH, NC) - July 31, 2024 - The board of the Dix Park Conservancy announced today that president and CEO Janet Cowell will step down effective October 4. A search committee from the board will initiate a national search for a new leader. Following Cowell’s departure, former board chair and retired president and publisher of The News & Observer Orage Quarles will take over as interim CEO.
Dix Park Conservancy is the City’s partner in the public-private partnership that is building Dix Park based on a master plan informed by a broad and effective program of public input and approved by the City Council.
“Dix Park is more vibrant and active than ever, thanks in large part to Janet’s strong leadership of the Conservancy,” said board chair Bill Ross. “Our donor base is robust and expanding, our staff is remarkable, our partnership with the City of Raleigh is efficient and productive, and our slate of attractions is at an all-time high and growing. We thank Janet for her service and look forward to a bright, transformational future as North Carolina’s park for and by the people.”
Cowell signed on as the Conservancy’s president and chief executive in January of 2021. In January of 2024, she announced her candidacy for Raleigh mayor. She exits her tenure at the Conservancy in order to focus on her political aspirations.
During Cowell’s tenure, the Conservancy has raised over $40 million in private funding and launched projects such as the restoration of the park’s historic Stone Houses and an ambitious public art initiative. In 2025, Dix Park will unveil the 18.5-acre Gipson Play Plaza, an inspiring public space for all ages with one of a kind play spaces, works of art, a civic plaza, fountains, and gardens.
Heading the board’s search task force are Jim Hansen, regional president at PNC Bank, and former Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane. The search for the new president & CEO will remain open until the leader is named by the board.
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Healing Transitions is attracting people who cause a bunch of issues in the surrounding neighborhoods. I’m wondering how they are going to reconcile this with the 18 acre children’s park opening soon next door. Hoping for some kind of established security or police presence at least.
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Do you have examples of said issues in surrounding neighborhoods? Firsthand experience, or just anecdotal/secondhand he-said-she-said? I’m just asking for more than a vague comment - Healing Transitions is a very helpful and valuable resource and is even expanding their footprint. Cities still need places like this to help people trying to escape addiction.
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I have to agree that maybe this wasn’t well thought out. As someone who now lives beside a “temporary” men’s shelter, we now have many negatives that we had not anticipated. Not all directly caused by the shelter residents themselves but just from the fact the shelter is here in the neighborhood and also run by caring but not necessarily trained individuals. I hope they get things right at Healing Transitions. Security would be a must have IMHO looking back on our experience.
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Again: examples? What are the issues that Healing Transitions is causing? And what is the “fix” - security? What does that entail, private security creating a perimeter around the property not allowing the residents to leave…?
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Honesty you would just have to come live here for a few weeks to get what is going on here. I am NOT comparing the two. I am just saying that sometimes you don’t know what all can go on until it happens. And you are putting an addiction recovery center next door to a huge play center for kids. It may be fine. I thought that a “temporary” white flag men’s shelter would be fine too until it wasn’t. Maybe just as a precaution start out with your eyes open instead of blindly walking into the unknown.
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One piece of evidence (related to the mens shelter @svp mentioned) that was shared this morning in our community Slack. “Crime” incidents per year for the block surrounding The Fairweather, and we’re barely past the half-year mark.
2020: 13
2021: 13
2022: 20
2023: 15
2024: 56
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I used to park my car near the Fairweather when I went to Red Hat or Crank Arm and switched my spot because of it. It’s not the best vibe.
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That’s nothing. @OakCityDylan moved all the way to Florida to get away from them!
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Forgive me y’all, I just personally know someone who overcame an opioid addiction (years ago at this point, he’s been clean for longer than I’ve known him) and he actually spent some time during his recovery at Healing Transitions. So I’m just coming in with my own personal anecdote, but one that’s actually on the positive, affirming side. I think this place is a necessity, and while I can understand the concern about it being right next to the park, two thoughts come to mind:
- It still has to go somewhere, and somewhere central and easily accessible - and this is just about as far outside of the city as you can put it while still maintaining some accessibility (especially as it’s also pretty close to the Farmers Market where these folks might be able to find some work or even simply groceries), and
- Again, it’s currently in the middle of constructing a massive building addition, so it’s not going anywhere…
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