rendering of new park image

Parks and Recreation

Smoky Hollow Park Project

New Park Coming to Downtown Raleigh

Project Overview

The 2014 and 2022 City of Raleigh Parks Bond Referendums allocates funding for site remediation, park design and permitting, and construction of the future Smoky Hollow Park.  The project site, known informally for many years as "Devereux Meadow, is a 14-acre City of Raleigh-owned property, currently used as a city maintenance facility, at the corner of Capital Boulevard and Peace Street, north of downtown Raleigh.  In November 2022, Raleigh City Council approved renaming the future park to “Smoky Hollow Park”.

The Smoky Hollow Park project focuses on environmental remediation, stream restoration, flood and stormwater management, greenway trail implementation, and park improvements for passive recreation.  The future park will offer walking paths, gathering spaces, and extensive landscaped and naturalized areas.  The centerpiece of the park is the restoration of Pigeon House Branch, realigned to flow through the middle of the park.  The restored stream will be seen from multiple viewing areas along the pathways and plaza.

The Raleigh City Council approved the Smoky Hollow Park Schematic Design at the May 7, 2024 meeting.  The next design phase will start in Fall 2024 with construction planned for 2026.

Please see the Resources section at the bottom of this page for project documents.

Project Timeline: 2017-2028

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Project Details

 
Type:
Parks
Budget:
$13,500,000 (2014 and 2022 Parks Bonds funding); $5,500,000 (Raleigh Stormwater funding)
Contractors:
Tetra Tech Engineering (Civil and Environmental Engineering and Consulting), Design Workshop (Landscape Architecture), and Ecosystems Planning and Restoration (Stream and Wetland Restoration Consultants)

Contact

 

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources
Gary Claiborne, Capital Projects Manager
gary.claiborne@raleighnc.gov
919-996-2677 

Engineering Services
Megan Walsh, PE Stormwater Senior Engineer
megan.walsh@raleighnc.gov
919-996-4009

Lead Department:
Parks, Recreation and Cultural ResourcesEngineering Services
Service Unit:
Stormwater

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This project supports

Raleigh's Climate Plan in Action

Planning

The concept design was adopted by the City Council in 2022.  See the Resources section below to download the Concept Plan Report. 

Design

The Schematic Design was adopted by the City Council on May 7, 2024. 

Construction

Site Remediation and Construction planned for 2026-2027.

Complete

Project Completion and Park Opening planned for 2028.


Project Schedule

Date Activity
2017 - 2020 Site Environmental Analysis
2020 - 2022 Site Planning, Conceptual Design, Stakeholder and Community Engagement
2023 - 2025 Park Design and Permitting
2026 - 2027 Site Construction (planned)

Public Participation Process

The public process for the Smoky Hollow Park project followed the Consult pathway, as outlined in the City of Raleigh Public Participation Playbook, and concluded with the City Council approval of the Schematic Design in May 2024. 

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