Smoky Hollow Park has received an $8.6 million grant to fund a project that includes the restoration of the Pigeon House Branch and the first phase of the Pigeon House Greenway Trail.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant also covers other passive recreation facilities, river restoration, and flood and stormwater management.

“This grant will enable the city to completely transform an underused space in our downtown into a green oasis where Raleigh residents and visitors can enjoy an enhanced Pigeon House Creek, green spaces and public spaces,” said Stephen Bentley, director of Raleigh Parks.

The centerpiece of the park is the restoration of Pigeon House Branch, a restored stream visible from several vantage points along the trails and plaza, which will be realigned and now flows through the center of the park.

The area, known as Smoky Hollow Park, is a 14-acre site at the corner of Capital Boulevard and Peace Street, north of downtown Raleigh. It is owned by the City of Raleigh and is currently used as a municipal maintenance facility.

It was known as Devereux Meadow for years until the Raleigh City Council approved renaming it Smoky Hollow Park in November 2022. Designs were approved in May 2024. The next design phase will begin this fall, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.