For the past two years, every Monday, Marenda Rose has taken her three children to a different park in the Raleigh area, giving them a chance to play and explore new spaces.

The Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park hosted a private event Saturday, offering families a preview of the free, inclusive space.

The 18.5-acre plaza includes climbing towers, interactive water features modeled after the Historic Yates Mill, picnic areas and a market for families.

Freeman Park is one of the nation's top dog-friendly beaches, and Wilson's whirligig park features 30 moving sculptures made ...