I’m a fan of Nash Square. It’s probably one of the few places in downtown where I can sit and people-watch while being in this kind of hybrid comfort where the busier city streets meet the slowness of the trees and greenery. I’d change a few things for sure but mostly, it works for me, and I have no complaints. When the city recently released plans to start a process to reimagine the square, I was intrigued. What could they be up to?

The City of Raleigh has launched the Nash Square Public Realm Plan, a long-range vision and management project aimed at guiding the square through what the city describes as a pivotal moment of transition. The opening of the new Raleigh City Hall on the north side of the square, combined with a broader wave of urban redevelopment expected around its edges, means Nash Square is due for a thoughtful rethink. The goal isn’t a teardown-and-rebuild, it’s a community-grounded plan to ensure the space stays resilient.

Four key objectives are driving the project. First, enhancing the public realm by improving the look, feel, and function of the square and its surroundings, including smoother transitions between the park and nearby streets and buildings. Second, integrating new development, particularly harmonizing the square’s design with the new City Hall and other adjacent projects. Third, preserving Nash Square’s historical integrity, including protecting its beloved tree canopy through a long-term management strategy. And fourth, planning for the future by creating a durable stewardship framework, not just a one-time redesign.

The planning process itself is running through the end of 2026. The city is currently in the Site Analysis & Initial Input phase (January–March 2026), with concept plan development following in the spring, a draft master plan expected over the summer, and a final plan review wrapping up in the fall. Community input is central to the process, and the city has a public survey open now. Jump to that here: engage.raleighnc.gov.

I’ll be interested to see where it goes though if I had to pick, I’m fine with Nash Square and would redirect the efforts toward a few other areas in downtown. Still, multiple things can take place at once.

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