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RALEIGH MAYOR JOINS GROUPS 
IN ASKING GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SELL DIX PROPERTY

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 14, 2007) –Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker joined three advocacy groups – Friends of Dorothea Dix Park, DIX306 and Dix Visionaries – today to make a formal offer to the General Assembly to purchase the Dorothea Dix Hospital property for the preservation of the remaining 306 acres as a world-class destination park.

Mayor Meeker said the city will pay market value as a park, estimated at approximately $10.5 million for the purchase of the Dix property on the edge of downtown Raleigh.  

"Preserving these last 306 acres is critical to the future of Raleigh and positions our state as one of vision and forethought," said Mayor Meeker. 

In addition to the city's pledge, Gregory Poole, Jr. president of Dix Visionaries, said, "We plan to raise over $7 million from the private sector. We know how critical support from the business community will be to the success of this monumental project."

Jay Spain, president of Friends of Dorothea Dix Park said, "With the stroke of a pen, the General Assembly could create this park. They have yet to do so. We are still hopeful they will. But we are grateful for the city's offer to bear their resources for this opportunity that will benefit everyone."

Bill Padgett, organizer with the grassroots group DIX306, said, "World-class states need world-class cities and world-class cities have world-class parks. The DIX306 signs you see are a token expression of the tremendous support to preserve these 306 acres as a world class destination park.

"Our state has recently shown great leadership in preserving Bird Island on the coast and Chimney Rock in the mountains and now with the leadership of Mayor Meeker, our General Assembly has the opportunity make the '306 vision' a reality. The people of NC are asking their elected officials to do what is right for future generations and save these precious 306 acres," said Padgett.

Dix Visionaries, Friends of Dorothea Dix Park and DIX306 share the same vision for preserving the entire 306 acres.  Destination parks are widely acclaimed and appreciated for the economic stability they provide, their attractiveness to industries considering relocation sites, future generations, and the overall quality of life preserved in perpetuity.

About the three groups:

Friends of Dorothea Dix Park (FDDP), founded in 2004, is a 501(c)3 organization made up of thousands of individuals and more than 30 member organizations whose mission is to preserve the

Dorothea Dix Campus as a world-class destination park.  FDDP is dedicated to educating people across North Carolina about the value of preserving the land as a destination park and why it is the right thing to do for our children, our economic stability and our overall quality of life.  For more information please visit www.dixpark.org .

DIX306 is a grassroots organization made up of member organizations and individuals from across the state of North Carolina who are actively working to spread the word about the land issue through a state-wide yard sign campaign and other vehicles.  More information is available at www.dix306.org.

Dix Visionaries are a group of North Carolina business and community leaders from across North Carolina working together to raise awareness and funds from the private sector to support the preservation of 306 acres on the Dorothea Dix Mental Hospital property. 

Friends of Dorothea Dix Park (FDDP), founded in 2004, is a 501(c)3 organization made up of thousands of individuals and more than 30 member organizations whose mission is to preserve the Dorothea Dix Campus as a world-class destination park.  FDDP is dedicated to educating people across North Carolina about the value of preserving the land as a destination park and why it is the right thing to do for our children, our economic stability and our overall quality of life.  For more information about FDDP, its people, plans and vision, please visit