This North Carolina Park Just Unveiled A Giant Basketball Tree With 23 Hoops That Anyone Can Play On

Swish. Clang. Okay, now try the branch three hoops higher.

A 23-foot orange steel tree covered in 23 real basketball hoops sounds like something invented during a very strange halftime show.

Instead, it is playable public art sitting in a North Carolina park.

I would not make it ten feet past this thing without grabbing a ball.

The artist actually designed it for that exact reaction after watching museum visitors desperately want to shoot baskets at earlier versions.

Now nobody has to resist.

Basketballs are even available on-site while supplies last, turning sculpture appreciation into an accidental pickup game.

And somehow the park gets weirder after that, with giant trolls and other oversized surprises scattered around the grounds.

My problem would be leaving the basketball tree.

Twenty-three hoops means at least twenty-three extremely questionable shot attempts.

Twenty-Three Hoops And Zero Excuses Not To Shoot

Basketball just grew branches in Raleigh. The sculpture at Dix Park is called Orange Functional, and it looks like a tree that took up hoops as a hobby.

It stands 23 feet tall and is made of painted steel. Its bright orange limbs reach out in every direction.

Each one ends in a regulation-size basketball hoop, and there are 23 in total.

That number is not random decoration. The tree is meant to be played on, not just admired from a polite distance.

You can walk right up, grab a ball, and start shooting.

Good news for anyone who forgot their own ball. Basketballs are provided on-site for public use, while supplies last.

Bringing your own is still a smart backup plan on busy days.

The Dix Park Conservancy commissioned this piece of public art. It opened to the public with a celebration on Wednesday, October 7th.

That makes it one of the newest reasons to visit this huge North Carolina park.

Fair warning for competitive types. With 23 rims to pick from, nobody can blame a missed shot on a crowded court.

You’ll just have to blame your aim.

Find The Tree Beside A Cottage And A Coffee Stop

Location matters when your park covers 308 acres. The basketball tree lives in Flowers Field, so that’s the name to remember.

It sits near the historic Flowers Cottage. That older building gives the bright orange steel a fun contrast.

Old and new share the same patch of grass here.

Close by, you’ll also find Cottage Coffee and Park Bar, which opened recently. That’s handy when you need a warm drink between shooting rounds.

Coffee and free throws are a strong pairing.

To reach the basketball tree in Flowers Field, use 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603, the address for nearby Flowers Cottage. Follow the park signs toward Flowers Field.

The grounds are big enough that a little planning saves a lot of wandering.

Dix Park’s outdoor spaces are open seven days a week. Hours run from sunrise to sunset.

That gives you plenty of daylight to test your jump shot.

A quick tip for groups is to pick a meeting spot. Flowers Field works well because the giant orange tree is hard to miss.

Nobody will ever say they couldn’t find the basketball sculpture.

The Artist Listened When People Wanted To Play

Cuban-born artist Alexandre Arrechea created Orange Functional. His idea started with a simple question about choices.

Think about it for a second. When you stand under this tree, you can’t shoot at every hoop at once.

You have to pick one target out of many.

Arrechea built the work around themes of choice, agency, and responsibility. That sounds serious for a basketball tree.

Yet it makes sense once you’re holding a ball and staring up at 23 rims.

Earlier versions of his hoop trees sat in museums as artwork only. People kept wanting to play on them anyway.

The artist noticed that strong urge and adapted the sculpture to be functional.

I love that the audience basically changed the art. Instead of a sign saying do not touch, this one says go ahead.

The first playable version went up at Art Omi in Ghent, New York, in 2022. Others now stand in Biidaasige Park in Toronto.

The San Antonio Spurs got one at their practice facility in 2023. Raleigh now joins that short and very fun list.

Your Shooting Arm Gets A Skyline View

Most courts give you a fence and maybe a parking lot. Dix Park gives you rolling meadows, big hills, and the Raleigh skyline.

The park is 308 acres, which ranks it among the largest urban parks in North Carolina. It sits right in the heart of the city.

Somehow it still feels wide open.

Mature oak trees shade parts of the land. Historic buildings dot the grounds too.

The mix makes every walk feel a little different.

The skyline views are the real postcard moment. Downtown rises right over the grass.

It’s a great backdrop for a photo after you finally sink that tricky shot.

Hammocks and porch-style swings hang in some shady spots around the park. They make a fine reward after a basketball session.

Your legs will thank you.

Wear comfy shoes, because distances add up fast here. Sunscreen is also a good idea on bright days.

Open fields look lovely, but they don’t offer much shade in every spot. Plan a few breaks under the oaks and you’ll be set.

Kids Get The Biggest Adventure Playground In The Southeast

Young hoopers might need a break eventually. Luckily, Gipson Play Plaza waits nearby with 18.5 acres of play.

That size makes it the largest adventure playground in the Southeast. It was a centerpiece of the park’s first phase of development.

It mixes playgrounds, gardens, gathering spaces, and public art.

Water fans get extra treats. An interactive waterfall runs year-round, weather permitting.

A splash pad also operates through October.

The playground keeps longer hours than the rest of the park. Gipson Play Plaza is open from 8 AM to 9 PM.

That’s helpful for families who like evening outings.

Parents will appreciate the picnic area with grills nearby. A shaded table makes a nice base camp.

Pack snacks, a towel, and maybe dry clothes for the splash pad.

I like how the park lets kids bounce between activities. Shoot some hoops in Flowers Field, then climb and splash at the plaza.

That’s a full day of burning energy, and everyone sleeps well afterward. Tired kids are a happy bonus for the ride home.

Giant Trolls Are Hiding Around The Grounds

Basketball isn’t the only oversized art here. A family of giant trolls also calls Dix Park home.

Danish artist Thomas Dambo created them. He’s famous worldwide for building huge troll sculptures from reclaimed materials.

These ones have become a major draw for visitors.

Finding them feels like a scavenger hunt. Some sit near open spaces, while others wait along wooded trails.

Grabbing a park map from the visitor center makes the search much easier.

Here’s a fun plan for the day. Start with the trolls in the morning, then end with a shooting contest at the orange tree.

That’s two giant art pieces in one trip.

The trolls are a hit with photographers too. Their size makes people look tiny standing beside them.

Kids especially love spotting faces and hands peeking out from the trees.

Give yourself time for this part. The park covers a lot of ground, and the trolls are spread out.

Expect real walking between stops. Water bottles and patience will serve you well on the hunt.

Bring The Dog, Because There Are Acres For Them Too

Dogs can’t dunk, sadly. They still get a great spot of their own at Dix Park.

The off-leash dog park covers 2.5 acres of grass. That’s a lot of room for zoomies.

It also has separate areas for small dogs and large dogs.

That split is a smart touch. Tiny pups can play without dodging much bigger buddies.

Larger dogs get space to really stretch their legs.

You could easily build a day around both pets and people. Let the dog run first, then head toward the basketball tree.

Just remember most of the park beyond the dog area calls for a leash.

Pack a water bowl and some bags. North Carolina summers can heat up fast.

Fresh water keeps your pup comfortable while they play.

I believe a tired dog makes for a peaceful afternoon. After a good run, your furry friend may happily nap while you take a few more shots.

Everyone wins in that deal. Even the squirrels get a little break from the chasing.

July Turns A Field Into A Sea Of Sunflowers

Golden blooms take over one corner of the park every summer. The Dix Park sunflower field blooms each year in July.

It has become one of the most iconic sights in the park. Rows of yellow flowers stretch out under the sky.

Bees and butterflies show up for the party too.

Photographers love this season. Family portraits, selfies, and sunset shots all look amazing against bright petals.

You’ll want your camera charged.

Timing is everything here. Come in May and you’ll find green stems instead of flowers.

Mid to late July is the sweet spot for full blooms.

Summer heat is real, so plan early or late visits. Morning light is softer and cooler.

Evening glow makes the flowers shine.

Here’s a fun summer combo. Visit the sunflowers, then wander over to the basketball tree for a few shots.

Not many places let you mix flower fields with hoops on the same afternoon. Raleigh pulled it off nicely, and your camera roll will prove it.

Snacks, Trails, And A Bigger Future Ahead

Hungry after all that shooting? Dix Park has a couple of handy places to refuel.

The House of Many Porches Market offers snacks and drinks near Gipson Play Plaza. Cottage Coffee and Park Bar, which opened in August 2026, sits beside the basketball tree and welcomes visitors Thursday through Sunday.

Walkers and cyclists have another perk. The park connects to the Capital Area Greenway System through the Rocky Branch Trail.

You can roll in on two wheels if you like.

Dix Park is still growing, too. The Raleigh City Council unanimously approved the Dix Park Master Plan in February 2019.

Gipson Play Plaza was a big piece of the first phase.

The City of Raleigh owns and operates the park. The Dix Park Conservancy, a nonprofit, supports it as a philanthropic partner.

That same group brought the basketball tree here.

Best of all, the outdoor park is free to enjoy. So grab a ball, pick a hoop, and see how many of the 23 you can hit.

North Carolina just gave everyone a very good reason to practice.