Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Dept. recently unveiled plans for a new urban park at the site of the former Devereux Meadow park (at the corner of Capital Boulevard and Peace Street). The Devereux Meadow Project is currently in the planning + conceptual design stage of development, with funding allocation and permitting to come at a later date.
Currently, the 14-acre lot is home to the City of Raleigh’s maintenance + vehicle service facility, but its past holds a unique history. The city believes that the land was used as a camping ground for Union troops during the Civil War, as well as a community gathering space for churches in the late 1800s.
From the 1930s-1970s, Devereux Meadow was home to minor league baseball teams, such as the Raleigh Capitals. The Devereux Meadow baseball stadium was constructed in the 1930s-1940s + hosted baseball legends, including Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, and Jackie Robinson.
Did you know the construction of the stadium led to the burying + channelization of waterway Pigeon House Branch?
The Devereux Meadow baseball stadium closed in the early 1970s as other sports gained popularity and Raleigh was left without a minor league baseball team. The stadium was demolished 1979 to make way for a parking lot. However, visitors can look for leftover portions of the stadium wall along the western edge of the site. If any of our readers attended a baseball game at Devereux Meadows, we’d love to see some pictures — send them here.
The city began its work on the Devereux Meadow Project (conducting environmental site analysis) in 2017. However, talk surrounding this proposed public park has been around for quite some time — it was mentioned in the 2012 Capital Boulevard Corridor Study Report and the 2015 Raleigh Downtown Plan.
Over the next ~2 years, the city plans to gather public input from internal and external affairs to finalize details and create a collaborative vision. Currently, the budget for this stage of the project is $2 million for environmental studies, park planning, and design. Construction of the proposed park will most likely occur in phases.
According to the city’s website, the vision for the park may include:
- Passive open areas and walking paths
- Environmental and historical interpretation
- Natural stormwater treatment areas
- Daylighting and restoration of Pigeon House Branch
- A greenway connection from Crabtree Creek Greenway to Downtown Raleigh
Residents can view the Devereux Meadow Project’s virtual open house here and public survey here.
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