Nash Square Receives Long Range Public Realm Plan

The Nash Square Public Realm Plan was updated on December 1, 2025 to provide a long range vision and management strategy for one of Raleigh's original four public squares. Located at the heart of downtown and shaded by a canopy of mature oaks and hardwoods, Nash Square now faces transition as the City constructs a new Civic Campus on the square's north side and redevelopment continues in the surrounding blocks.

Led by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department, the plan sets four central objectives. It seeks to enhance the public realm by strengthening the look, feel, and function of the square and adjoining spaces, to integrate the square's design with the new City Hall and nearby development, to preserve Nash Square's historical integrity while modernizing amenities and layout, and to create a long term management strategy that includes protection and care for the historic tree canopy.

Officials outlined a clear schedule for moving the plan from analysis to adoption. Site analysis and an initial input phase are scheduled for January to March 2026. Concept plan development will follow from April to June 2026. A draft master plan will be prepared between July and September 2026, with final plan review slated for October to December 2026. The project is categorized as a parks effort and follows the City of Raleigh's Public Participation Playbook using the Involve pathway, with public engagement opportunities and related project links to be posted on the city platform.

For downtown residents and businesses the plan carries practical consequences. Preservation of mature trees and improved transitions to adjacent streets aim to maintain the square as a shady respite and an active civic crossroads, while coordination with the Civic Campus seeks to encourage pedestrian flow and safer access. Management commitments in the plan are intended to ensure ongoing care rather than a one time renovation, a factor that will influence event programming, maintenance budgets, and everyday use.

Residents with questions or who want to engage in the planning process may contact project staff. T.J. McCourt, Planning Supervisor, can be reached at 919 410 4362. Bekah Torcasso Sanchez, Park Planner, can be reached at 919 855 0202.