Safety patrols coming to Gipson Play Plaza at Raleigh's Dix Park
THIS. A SPOKESPERSON TELLS US
THAT IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION
>> ADDED SAFETY PATROLS ARE
COMING TO A NEW POPULAR
LOCATION FOR FAMILIES IN
RALEIGH CITY LEADERS TODAY
VOTING TO ADD GIBSON PLAYED
PLAZA IN DIX PARK WRAL'S WHEN
SNYDER IS JOINING US NOW LIVE
AT THE RALEIGH MUNICIPAL
BUILDING FLYNN. THE PLAY PLAZA
HAS SEEN SOME IMPRESSIVE
VISITOR NUMBERS SINCE OPENING
EARLIER THIS SUMMER.
>> IN A NEARLY HALF A MILLION
PEOPLE HAVE VISITED THE PARK IN
THE FIRST 2 MONTHS SINCE
OPENING IN JUNE. ACCORDING TO
THE CITY. NOW, WAITERS WERE
INSIDE THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING
TODAY FOCUSING ON WHAT HAPPENS
AFTER EVERYONE LEAVES FOR THE
DAY AND THE SUN GOES DOWN.
IT SIMPLY PLAZA AT DIX PARK
IS USED TO HUNDREDS OF VISITORS
DURING THE DAY.
>> AND IS NOW SET TO GET MORE
FOOT TRAFFIC
AT NIGHT, RALEIGH CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED NEARLY $300,000 FOR
OVERNIGHT UNARMED PRIVATE
SECURITY AT THE PLAZA. CONSIDER
TO BE THE SOUTHEAST'S LARGEST
ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND BECAUSE OF
THE WALLS AND THE STRUCTURES ON
THE SIDELINES. STANDARD VEHICLE
PATROL LIKE WE DO LIKE OUR PD
DOES AT OTHER PARKS DOESN'T
QUITE WORK HERE. SO HAVING
SECURITY GUARDS WHO WERE JUST
WALKING AROUND THE GROUNDS OR
IN THE EVENING HAS GOT THE
SPACE SAFE AND PROTECTED
COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO VOTED TO
CONTINUE PRIVATE SECURITY AT
CITY OWNED PARKING LOTS AND
DECKS DOWNTOWN. PLUS IN MOORE
SQUARE. IT'S A MOVE COMBINED
WITH POLICE EFFORTS AT RALEIGH
OFFICIALS SAY HAS RESULTED IN
A 42% DECREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME
FROM 2023 TO 2024. AND THE
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS CORE. THOSE
TRENDS HAVE CONTINUED OVER THE
LAST YEAR I WAS SEEN AT 2%
DECREASE IN INCIDENCE AND A
6% DECREASE.
>> AND CALLS FOR SERVICE.
AND THAT DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
CORE. SO THINGS CONTINUE TO
TREND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
WHICH IS VERY ENCOURAGING
>> SO COUNCILMEMBER SAID THE
REASON FOR HIRING PRIVATE
SECURITY FIRMS IS BECAUSE
RALEIGH POLICE DOES NOT HAVE
THE STAFFING TO BE IN CERTAIN
AREAS CONSISTENTLY AS FAR AS
GIBSON PLAYED PLAZA. RPD
PROVIDES PATROLS THERE
THROUGHOUT THE DAYTIME HOURS.