I thought our park visits would cease to exist this winter, but we’ve been so lucky with all the cool, sun-filled days that we’ve been able to keep exploring. Yesterday we visited Halifax Park near Peace College and Seaboard Station. It’s located at 1015 Halifax St, just north of Peace St and close to the Raleigh Housing Authority.
Halifax Park is a neighborhood park that has a small playground area, large multipurpose field, outdoor basketball courts, and a community center. The community center has a weight room, gym, and a few meeting rooms. The playground has a sandy surface with a few swings and a large jungle gym suitable for children 5yrs+. The playground and the outdoor basketball courts are in need of some TLC, which is planned to begin later this year. The large multi-purpose field is fenced and has soccer goals, lacrosse goals, bleachers, and a back stop.
Lucky for us, we visited the park before construction begins later this year on improvements to the community center and playground. The Raleigh Parks & Rec department will work with the Raleigh Housing Authority and nearby citizens to ensure the recreational needs of the community are met. According to the City of Raleigh’s Planning and Development website, this project is currently in the design stage with construction beginning this year and completing next summer. The improvements to this park are being funded through the approval of the 2007 Bond Referendum.
We’re excited to check back on the status of Halifax Park as it makes its transformation. Lucky for the residents in the area, Mordecai Mini Park is close by.
Thumbs up: large multi-purpose field, upcoming improvements, shady picnic spots, close proximity to many neighborhoods (Capitol Park, Pilot Mill, Mordecai)
Thumbs down: small playground area limited to mostly older children, old community center
Entrance sign on Halifax St
Halifax Community Center
Outdoor basketball courts
Multi-purpose field leased from the RHA
Backstop on the multi-purpose field
Another view of the large open field
Water fountain (that does not work)
Another view of the basketball courts
Climbing structure on the playground
Baby Ashley is enjoying a sun-filled morning at the park
Fun times at the park
Crape Myrtle trees surround the perimeter of the playground
Over the last few months I’ve noticed the new paved trail near Ridgewood Shopping Center and then the new pedestrian tunnels take shape along the beltline. All of this has led me to ask, “What is going on?” So, on the third day of Raleigh Parks visits, we did some exploratory research into the pedestrian tunnels and new paved trails that have been popping up in the area.
It seems the new greenway trails are part of the House Creek Greenway Trail that is currently under construction. According to the Raleigh Parks and Rec website, this will be a 2.9 mile greenway that will extend from the Reedy Creek Trail at the I-440 pedestrian bridge to Crabtree Creek Trail at the intersection of Blue Ridge Rd and Crabtree Valley Blvd. This piece of the greenway will give folks in North Raleigh a pedestrian trail for accessing Umstead Park.
In looking at the proposed trail map, this section of the greenway will start near the intersection of Wade Ave and Ridge Rd and head west along the inner beltline, go under Lake Boone Trail, go under Glen Eden Dr, meander through Glen Eden Pilot Park and then come out on Blue Ridge Rd near the McDonald’s. From there, you can easily access Crabtree Creek Trail.
As I mentioned, we were out today to just explore what’s going on, especially since all the trails are still under construction and closed at this point. We can’t wait to report back in Spring 2012 after it’s all finished!
Thumbs up: increased greenway access, pedestrian options for accessing Umstead Park, informative Raleigh Parks & Rec website
Thumbs down: nothing to report so far
Trail closed near intersection of Wade Ave & Ridge Rd
A southern view of the trail near Glen Eden Dr
Looking towards the pedestrian tunnel from Glen Eden Dr
Another view of the tunnel under Glen Eden Dr
The Glen Eden Dr overpass was widened
Looking at the northern section of the tunnel under Glen Eden Dr
Access to Glen Eden Pilot Park from the road is closed
Trail under construction along Blue Ridge Rd
Near the Blue Ridge Rd and Crabtree Valley Blvd intersection
The new Isabella Cannon Park is officially open! I had the great pleasure of attending the grand opening on Monday night with about 100 other fellow neighbors, kids, city leaders, and Raleigh Parks & Rec staff. Mayor Meeker and Councilman Crowder along with others spoke about Isabella Cannon and congratulated everyone on a job well done with the project. Mayor Meeker noted that Isabella Cannon served as Raleigh’s mayor from 1977-1979 and passed away in 2002 at the age of 97. She was also the first woman to serve as a capital city mayor in the U.S. and was elected during a turning point in Raleigh.
Park Dedication
Grand opening program
Mayor Meeker addressing the community
Councilman Crowder congratulating those on the project
Project Manager giving thanks
UPHA president giving her thanks
The ribbon cutting ceremony!
Isabella Cannon Park is located at 2601 Kilgore Ave inside the beltline. Even though there is no parking lot, there is plenty of side-street parking. The main entrance on Kilgore Ave has a very wide path, making it an inviting place to come. There are additional stairway entrances near the intersection of Everett Ave and Gardner St across from the Rose Garden.
The new sign on Kilgore Ave
Main entrance on Kilgore with entry wall ahead
Side-street parking is available
Bike rack near the main entrance
Near corner of Everett Ave and Gardner St
Stairway entrance on Gardner St
Heading up the main entrance path is a beautiful stone entry wall in front of an open field surrounded by a concrete walkway. If you follow the path to the right you’ll see the renovated basketball courts, updated landscaping, playground with swing set, jungle gym, and see saws. The playground has both a mulch base and a sandy area with several picnic tables and benches scattered throughout.
Basketball courts
Basketball courts beneath large shade trees
Playground with swing set, jungle gym, and sandy area
Another view of the playground area
University Park Homeowners Association metal bench
Beyond the playground is a new stairway to the unpaved and more densely wooded area that has a charcoal grill. Continue on and you’ll find the stairs leading up to the entrance at Everett Ave and Gardner St.
New stairways leading to the unpaved section of the park
If you’re back on the concrete walkway continuing around the open field you should notice the newly planted Knockout Roses behind the entry wall symbolizing Mrs. Cannon’s love for the Rose Garden. Along the walkway there are several comfortable benches to rest on or enjoy the views of the open field (still closed off to allow the grass to grow). Once the grass grows in, it will be a great place for a flag football game! There is a also new pavilion with 4 picnic tables on the far side of the path.
View of pavilion from across the field
Picnic tables at the pavilion
Comfortable new benches
Continuing past the pavilion you’ll come to the most unique feature of the park: a small rock climbing area! The base has some padding to soften any falls and there are rules posted for climbing the rock. According to some of the speakers at the event this is the only park in Raleigh with a rock climbing area. The pathway extends up Kilgore Ave to the intersection of Latta St where the park ends. There are more benches in shady areas and new landscaping to enjoy.
Rock climbing area
Pathway along Kilgore Ave
Additional benches along the pathway
Being at the grand opening really gave me a sense of what a community is all about. The renovations for this park were provided by the 2003 bond referendum and from hearing the speakers thank those involved it sounds like the entire project from soliciting the community’s ideas to developing the master design plan to executing the project achieved the goals that were set forth…bringing a community together! I only wish I had gotten involved with the UPHA years ago.
Baby Ashley was all smiles when seeing the new park
Thumbs up: rock climbing area, sense of community, pathways, benches, playground, basketball courts, picnic area
I thought our park visits would cease to exist this winter, but we’ve been so lucky with all the cool, sun-filled days that we’ve been able to keep exploring. Yesterday we visited Halifax Park near Peace College and Seaboard Station. It’s located at 1015 Halifax St, just north of Peace St and close to the Raleigh Housing Authority.
