WAKE CITIZENS COALITION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 14, 2016

CONTACT: Joey Stansbury

919-771-3736
wakecitizens@gmail.com

TIME FOR TRANSPARENCY

Development will cost $150 million, said city councilor Mary-Ann Baldwin. A mix of
public and private money will pay for development, she said, and the park will be unique to Raleigh.
We have talked about this for over 10 years, so for me, seeing the agreement signed and all of a
sudden were starting to talk about whats next is really exciting, said Baldwin.
We are a growing, thriving city. We have incredible opportunities to advance the city this year.
Were starting the planning process on Dorothea Dix Park, said Raleigh mayor
Nancy McFarlane in her state-of-the-city address Monday.
Baldwin says it will take two years to come up with a master plan. She says the transformation
wont be complete for another 20-60 years. (emphasis added)
WNCN North Carolina News - March 8, 2016
"McFarlane said the development of the new park "will be a community endeavor," noting the Dix
Visionaries group that has pushed for the deal for years has already secured $3
million to help in the design and planning phases. (emphasis added)
@NCCapitol - January 12, 2015
http://www.wral.com/governor-raleigh-mayor-sign-dix-agreement/14348374/#3TmefFZSzuF8kcig.
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Poole also assembled an unlikely coalition of big land and property developers to
advocate for the Dix campus' park status, including O. Temple Sloan Jr. of General Parts, Ed
Fritsch of Highwoods Properties and Raleigh land developer Carlton Midyette, and secured more
than $3 million in pledged donations to finance the planning for the park. (emphasis
added)
Triangle Business Journal - January 13, 2015
The Dix Visionaries, a group of philanthropists who championed the transformation of the Dorothea
Dix campus into a destination park, received a $250,000 pledge from Poole on behalf of his company,
Gregory Poole Equipment Co. Poole is the son of Visionaries Chairman Gregory Poole Jr.

This endowment comes on the heels of Barbara and Jim Goodmons $1 million commitment
made Dec. 3 on behalf of the AJ Fletcher Foundation. Both contributions have built
significant momentum for the next stage of the park: master planning. After the private donation
target is achieved, the campus will be surveyed and assessed to determine the layout of the park.
(emphasis added)
Wake Living - February 7, 2013
The city already has a leg up on planning. Among its partners is a group of philanthropists formerly
known as the Dix Park Visionaries, now the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy. Goodmon is
chairman of the group that has already pledged $3.5 million toward a master plan.
(emphasis added)

News and Observer - January 23, 2106

http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article56085665.html
Raleigh, NC - As Raleigh moves forward with developing the Dorothea Dix hospital property, Wake
Citizens Coalition issues the following statement:
For over 12 years, Mayor Nancy McFarlane, and her predecessor Charles Meeker, have kept Raleigh
citizens out of the Dix Park process, choosing instead to work closely with a select group of Dix
Visionaries. Mayor McFarlane and others have publicly stated the Dix Visionaries (now the
Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy) have raised over $3 million towards designing and planning the Dix
Park. Beyond a $1 million pledge by Jim Goodmon on behalf the AJ Fletcher Foundation and a
$250,000 pledge by Greg Poole, we know nothing of the people behind this $3 million commitment.
Yet these people are currently driving the Dix Park planning process.
Now talk has circulated within the Raleigh community of an impending legal agreement with the Dix
Conservancy and the City of Raleigh. Raleigh still has not established a formal planning committee for
Dix or a parks planning process for Dix. But they are moving ahead with establishing a legal
agreement among a select group of insiders once again.
Councillor Mary-Ann Baldwin has said development of the park will cost $150 million along with
Mayor McFarlane saying they have begun the planning process. This is yet more continuation of past
actions on Dix Park - keeping the public out of the process.
We are looking at a project that now totals $210 million and has been entirely coordinated outside of
the public eye.
It seems the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy, led by Jim Goodmon, believes they can command
control of the parks planning process through a $3 million donation to the City of Raleigh. Last time
we checked Raleigh citizens have made a $60 million, soon to be $210 million, donation to the City
of Raleigh. When do they get a seat at the table?

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