Nash Square Public Realm Plan Project Overview
As one of Raleigh’s original four public squares, Nash Square is a historic civic landmark at the heart of downtown. Shaded by a beloved canopy of mature oaks and other hardwoods, Nash Square has served many roles over the centuries. It functions as both a destination and a crossroads, a shady respite and a space for play, home to memorials of the past as well as a time capsule for the future. Today, with the construction of the new Raleigh City Hall on the north side of the square and a wave of urban redevelopment expected around its edges, Nash Square is poised at a moment of transition.
The Nash Square Public Realm Plan will guide this transition, providing a long-range vision and management plan for the preservation and evolution of one of Downtown Raleigh’s most iconic public spaces. Grounded in community input and thoughtful urban design, this plan will ensure that Nash Square remains a resilient, relevant, and vibrant civic space for the 21st Century.
This plan will recognize Nash Square as not merely a park, but as an enduring public square and extension of the new Raleigh City Hall. The project will take a broad view of the square and its surroundings, promoting holistic urban design strategies to create a more cohesive and seamless transition between Nash Square and the surrounding urban context.
Key Objectives include:
- Enhance the Public Realm: Strengthen the look, feel, and function of the square and the spaces around it, creating smooth, comfortable transitions between Nash Square and nearby streets and buildings.
- Integrate New Development: Adapt the square’s design to harmonize with the new City Hall and adjacent public and private developments.
- Preserve Historical Integrity: Acknowledge and protect the historical significance of Nash Square while updating its amenities and layout.
- Plan for the Future: Create a long-term management strategy that keeps Nash Square resilient and relevant, including a plan to protect and care for its historic tree canopy.
A New Nash: Kick-off Party & Open House
Join us as we kick off the Nash Square Public Realm Plan to learn about its past and present, and to help shape its future. Raleigh Parks is excited to create a New Nash that reflects the unique needs and desires of the community. We welcome your input and look forward to collaborating with you!
This event is family-friendly and will include activities for people of all ages. Accommodations and translation services are available upon request. Please contact nashsquare@publicinput.com for requests and assistance. Want to add a reminder to your personal calendar? You can complete the optional registration form here.
Featuring:
- Art + Design activities with Raleigh Parks, Artists, Urban Planners, and Landscape Architects from Reed Hilderbrand, A Gang of Three, Toole Design + more
- Urban Forestry + Historic Preservation with Bartlett Tree Arborists + Ian F.G. Dunn of Olde Raleigh
- Sounds by Good Times Assurance Co.
- Light Refreshments
Location: Whiskey Kitchen
Ages: All
Cost: Free
Online Survey Coming Soon!
Later this month (February), we will be releasing the first online survey opportunity for you to share your ideas and help us envision a new Nash!
Project Milestones