Raleigh is upgrading its water system to keep your tap flowing strong and reliable for years to come. Part of this work means building a new water line that will run under Dix Park. To make room for it, a few trees will need to be removed—but don’t worry, we’re taking care to remove as few as possible and keep the park’s beauty intact.

Think of it like adding a new superhighway for water underground—quietly running beneath the park so it doesn’t disturb your visit above. This water “highway” will connect the old Bain Water Treatment Plant on Fayetteville Street to the Pullen Park Booster Pump Station.

It’s a big project—over 15,000 feet long. That’s about the same as 40 football fields end to end! When it’s finished, it will help keep water flowing smoothly to homes and businesses across Raleigh for decades to come.

Benefits 

• Provides a backup water line that keeps water flowing even if one of our plants experiences a problem. 

• Expands water capacity to meet the needs of a growing city. 

• Increases use of reclaimed water for irrigation, cooling, and other non-drinking purposes to conserve drinking water. 

• Creates opportunities for future greenway connections and upgrades to the water system. 

Tree Impacts 

We understand that losing trees in Dix Park is never easy. That’s why tree removal will only happen when it’s absolutely necessary to safely build the new water line. Every tree that does need to be removed will be handled carefully by certified arborists, working closely with the City’s Urban Forestry Division.

Even after removal, the trees won’t be wasted. The wood will be reused for public art and furniture projects, so a piece of the park will live on for everyone to enjoy. 

View the map and informational video below to see where tree removal is happening.

More Information

Visit the FAQ page for more information about the project.