The goal of the Chavis-Dix Strollway is to celebrate Raleigh’s rich cultural history while connecting multiple communities on the southeast and southwest sides of the city. In doing so, it will provide a safe, accessible, and active transportation-focused corridor that connects downtown to two historic sites. This project will energize the area through placemaking, interpretive signage, partnerships, and community engagement.

The proposed active transportation-focused corridor aims to connect Raleigh’s downtown core to these key developments and resources along the way:

• Historic neighborhoods
• Shaw University (one of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Raleigh)
• The vibrant downtown core
• Black-owned businesses
• Convention Center
• Affordable housing resources (including Heritage Park, currently under re-design by the Raleigh Housing Authority)
• Emerging retail hubs
• Areas of new development

How will the community benefit from an urban Strollway?

This project will serve Raleigh residents and visitors alike. It will tie two of Raleigh’s largest parks to downtown, increasing access to both parks and bridging a gap in the City’s greenway network. The community sees this urban trail project as a priority because it will connect so many unique places of historical and cultural significance to Raleigh’s evolution. The Strollway will highlight history of Fourth Ward neighbohood and, by linking to the proposed South Park Heritage trail, will also support and celebrate the history of the South Park neighborhood, a historic neighborhood developed after the Civil War.

Community Engagement 

Public engagement events have occurred in reference to the Strollway since 2021 and will continue to do so into future phases of the project.

• 2021, October: Many community members also joined us in October 2021 for the Stroll in the Streets event to imagine the possibilities for the Strollway.
• 2022, September, 15 – 17: The city hosted two public input sessions on September 15 and 17, 2022, to gather feedback on the route options for the Chavis-Dix Strollway (WRAL News article).
• 2022, October: Information about the Strollway was distributed at several pop-up events during Community Planning Month.
• 2024, April: Saturday on South Block Party was held, a collaborative city event where city department staff shared information on the Strollway, South Park Heritage Trail, the Downtown Mobility Study, and the Red Hat expansion.
• 2024, September 10: Public outreach event inside the lobby of the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. Three rooms were designated to present and take questions on the latest plans for the Red Hat Expansion, the Strollway, and the Downtown Mobility Study.

Funding

This project has, in conjunction with the South Park Heritage Walk, been awarded a $3 million federal grant for implementation. The funding was made available through the advocacy of North Carolina Congresswoman Deborah Ross. The implementation of key priorities identified by the community will be limited to what is achievable under the current limited funding. Currently, the western section connecting Dix Park to downtown will be initiated with federal funding.

However, other potential funding opportunities could be pursued to support implementation of other desired placemaking elements of the Strollway.

Part of the 2020 Dix Park Master Plan

The City of Raleigh is making significant investments in the historic John Chavis Memorial Park and the new Dorothea Dix Park. These are both important landscapes and demonstrate commitment to creating equitable public spaces for all to enjoy. The city is excited to launch planning efforts focused on phased implementation of a Strollway that would connect these two historic sites to downtown.

Since 2021, staff from Planning and Development; Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources; Transportation; Community Engagement; Housing and Neighborhoods; Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex; and Engineering Services have been working together on a variety of initiatives. The working group has expanded to include representatives from Oaks and Spokes, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, Shaw University, Raleigh Housing Authority, and Citrix Cycle.

Through several meetings and community outreach efforts, South Street was identified as a potential route due to its redevelopment opportunities and existing right-of-way conditions. Longer term, staff noted that improvements to Western Boulevard and Martin Luther King Boulevard as part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project could also provide another, more direct, connection between Dix Park and Chavis Park.