The City of Raleigh is bringing one of its oldest parks, Moore Square, to the 21st century with a $12.5 million renovation slated to commence in the fall of 2017.
Groundbreaking will be held Nov. 9 while construction will commence Nov. 13.
Moore Square will be closed during the renovation. It will be reopened upon project completion in early 2019. The team behind the development is led by Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources. Members include Strategic Planning, Communication and Analytics and Sasaki Associates.
The park is located at the easternmost of the city’s four squares. It has been under consideration since the city held a design competition in 2009. In 2014, Raleigh City Council members agreed to spend $12.6 million on the project.
One of the main objectives of the renovation is to redevelop the park to meet the specific needs of locals and tourists. Neighborhood scale gatherings such as lunchtime concerts and yoga classes have been proposed. However, the city plans to limit the size, location and frequency of these events to minimize negative impacts to businesses around the park.
The renovation will not only focus on the design. In 2013, the Moore Square Comprehensive Tree Strategy was laid out. The plan focused on the large oak trees lining the park’s central lawn. Tree preservation will be implemented and new trees will be planted.
While preserving iconic design features, modern public art will be added to the park. Modern stonework, play features, lighting, seating and more will be constructed. Sculptural standalone artwork, however, will be limited.