Wild Ideas for Raleigh

We could all go in with one idea we rally behind and it would be hard to ignore.

Gondola is the coolest, most cost-conscious, generally reasonable, “big” idea that would play into our existing park investment, has proof of concept elsewhere, and isn’t overdone (Portland is the only urban one I know of in the US).

I like Busch Gardens’ triangular system and envision a Fayetteville St (south end) to Dix to NC State back to Fayetteville St loop.

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As I was taking my daughter to swim lessons last night at Pullen Park, I realized that there already is an Olympic sized swimming pool. Huh, never noticed that before. No slides though.

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Pre-covid NC State had plans and funds to build an outdoor pool, which I believe was Olympic sized. I wonder if the university and city could collaborate on a new joint pool on the Spring Hill site adjacent to Dix Park that could have an indoor and outdoor competition pool, as well as a water park. Would be cool having grandstands facing east overlooking the skyline. Wake County is already one of the top swimming regions in the US so it’d be nice if we could steal some of the big time meets away from an aging Greensboro Aquatic Center. This could also replace pullen park pool for it to make room for something else.

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I think I’ve mentioned this previously, but I’d like to see Raleigh send off the Holiday Inn with a giant art installation that converts the building into a giant replica of an actual hair curler.
I know that it’s a hair brained idea. :wink:
:curly_hair: :red_hair: :white_hair:

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I vote we rename it Pollen Park for May.

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I’d like to see Raleigh recreate one of its lost architectural treasures. Have a campaign led by local historians to nominate several lost buildings, and then have the community weigh-in on which one to build. Whichever one gets built, I am not necessarily saying that it has to be recreated in its original location, or that its purpose has to be original either.

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I like that idea, but right off I dont know what that would be. Would it have to be from Raleigh/Wake?

The old state penitentiary was a surprisingly beautiful building.

image

I think a prison would be a weird thing to commemorate via a rebuild though. My real answer might be just rebuilding to original first 3 floors of the Raleigh Banking and Trust Company building (where the CVS used to be)

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My vote would be the original City Market building. It looks as good as it functioned.

I could see this really bringing some great opportunities for today’s version of DTR. Semi-permanent stalls for small vendors, an indoor farmer’s market, event spaces, offices…the possibilities are endless. All in a beautiful “Italianate Style” building.

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That would be my first choice as well.

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Raleigb B&T would be a great pavilon, event space. City Mrt would great too, lots of potential practical uses. But this came to my mind first.

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I would love to see a Canes-City of Raleigh collaboration on an outdoor tile hockey rink somewhere in Raleigh. Denver and the Avalanche created one a couple years ago.

There’s currently 5 ice rinks in the area, a couple more roller rinks, and another ice rink on the way. I know the demand is there for being able to play for free on your own time. Think with the growth of hockey in the area this could be very successful.

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So, this rink that Denver created is non-skating rink? Is that correct?

There is a mini one inside Marbles, but it’s geared towards young kids.

Would love to see something like this at Dix or another local park. City provide land / Hurricanes pay for the construction, but get to put their branding on it. It’s a win-win.

(I know things are more complicated IRL)

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Creating a kayaking river from Lake Crabtree all the way down to the Neuse River. It’s a pretty wild idea. Not sure on feasability. With DTR about 3 miles to Atlantic/Crabtree Creek or 4 miles to New Bern, this could be something within Raleigh’s immediate area.

I love this idea and really hope this comes to fruition. This would be possible. The Triangle has some good kayaking but this is something that we could have right in the heart of Raleigh that enters the beltline.

A lot of work is needed, detailed here - https://paddling.com/paddle/trips/crabtree-creek-north-carolina

-It would require clearing out all the blowdown trees blocking the creek.
-Good portage areas would need to be built. The banks are steep and confining for much of it.
-Below Lassiter Mill it is full of trash that needs to be cleaned up.

Bonus vid: Lassiter Mill can be kayaked over if you’re brave enough

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Nice video. I’ve seen people kayak in that section. It makes me want to get a kayak and do it as well. I know one of the houses has a dock out that way. The water does get super shallow.

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I keep thinking this is already surely in the works, but the City needs to connect the following gaps in the trail system here:


And here:

(In coordination with the state and NC State, whom I believe own a portion of the intervening property).

Once that is done, poof!, Raleigh has a Beltline trail system. Honestly we already have one but those 2 spots make it more manageable. Market the shit out of it just like Atlanta and Greenville.

Flesh out some of the underserved
trails and up-zone areas adjacent to the Beltline trailways for multifamily and mixed use. We already have most of the infrastructure in place here.

OR, just follow through on all the plans the City has and put them into gear. Half the stuff in the hopper is already pretty exciting (Dix, Midtown Park, PNC development) so just go do it already instead of studying it to death!!! We don’t need a big gimmick, just do what you do well. But you have to actually do it!

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Pullen Rd definitely needs a crossing. Once you get across the bridge, there is both a bike lane and a wider multi-use path (for those who don’t feel comfortable riding in the street). They also need more going North. There is no sidewalk on Pullen Rd between Cates Ave and the bridge over Western.

As far as the beltline goes, there is a 30 mile loop around Raleigh. There are disconnected sections like the part by Alleghany Dr, Lassiter Mill Rd, Oxford Rd, and at Ashe Ave, but it’s close. Also needs the construction to finish. Currently the section just east of N. Raleigh Blvd is closed up to Lockwood Park.

I’ve never been to Atlanta, but the most marketable sections of the Greenway are NCMA, Meredith college and the restaurants/bars/RBC just to the south across Hillsborough St. They could use better aesthetics, but it’s fine. Hillsborough St. would be easily marketable if they had a multi-use path. NC State, Pullen Park, and Dix to the south are marketable, but there really isn’t restaurants in the area. Although it isn’t part of the loop, the greenway does go to Umstead.

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The new NC State physical master plan has visions for some excellent bike infrastructure on Pullen Rd. Just need to execute on it. Probably depends on the final plans for the Pullen Rd. bridge replacement, so hopefully all involved parties are on board.

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Downtown and its environs have some nice parks, but they’re tiny and disconnected. What about connecting up some of the “miniparks” into a “park system”, with a contiguous greenbelt loop to give the whole thing coherence? Isabelle Cannon, Jaycee, Fred Fletcher, and Edna Metz/Forest are arranged in a circular formation, interspersed by streams, some of which already have formal or informal pathways. The existing Gardner Greenway and the soon-to-be built SMokey Hollow Park form two spines. The biggest gap is Cameron Village, but maybe the redevelopment plan could do something about that?

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