With Phase 2.5 beginning at 5 p.m. Friday in North Carolina, more places can re-open. Governor Roy Cooper’s announcement Tuesday for Safer at Home 2.5 doesn’t automatically open these Raleigh area businesses, playgrounds and institutions, though.
We created this guide of popular places re-opening in Wake County with Phase 2.5. This guide is no longer being updated, but find what to know now in our daily-updated Wake County guide, including the latest in parks.
North Carolina Museum of Art galleries re-open Sept. 9
The museum’s park stayed open, with AC Restaurants providing picnics, at that. But the galleries have remained closed since spring.
Wednesday’s re-opening includes timed tickets for entry, updated hours and increased protocols to keep staff and visitors safe.
How to get a ticket: Go to visit.ncartmuseum.org to obtain a free ticket for a specific time, or buy on site. No cash accepted.
New health and safety measures include: Cloth face coverings required, some restroom stalls and sinks will be closed to ensure social distancing, plexiglass partitions at the museum shop and check-in, more deep cleaning.
When you go: Note the one-way path, make a reservation if you want to visit the Museum Library, and keep in mind lockers are temporarily unavailable. Some experiences are paused. Find more info at ncartmuseum.org/covid19.
NC Museum of History re-opens Sept. 10
The North Carolina Museum of History will open Thursday, Sept. 10, with enhanced health and safety procedures. All exhibits will be open except for Tar Heel Junior Historian Discovery Gallery.
The museum will reserve two hours in the morning, Tuesday-Saturday for immune-compromised people and senior adults, 9-11 a.m. The museum will be open to the general public 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 12-5 p.m. Sunday. [read more]
NC Museum of Natural Sciences re-opens Sept. 22
Visitors can reserve free, timed-entry tickets on the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences site. The temporary hours for the Downtown Raleigh museum will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, closed Mondays. Prairie Ridge Ecosystem, which also re-opens Sept. 22, will be open 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Marbles Kids Museum re-opening plans
The children’s museum in Downtown Raleigh announced its re-opening dates: first Sept. 11-13 for a members-only weekend, followed by a re-opening to the general public on Sept. 16.
Timed tickets will be required and are available online beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m. for members, and Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. for the general public.
Different exhibits may be closed at various times for cleaning. While the state now requires children 5 and older to wear face masks, the museum also strongly recommends children ages 3 and 4 also wear face masks. [learn more]
City of Raleigh Museum
The City of Raleigh Museum will re-open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 12, with a new exhibit, “Joseph Winters: The Music Maker.” [learn more]
The Gregg Museum
The art museum at NC State University is targeting Sept. 23 as a re-opening date. Timed reservations are available here.
CAM Raleigh re-opens Sept. 24
The Contemporary Art Museum in Downtown Raleigh announced it will re-open Thursday, Sept. 24, with a new exhibit from Maya Freelon.
Playgrounds managed by Wake County
Playgrounds that are a part of Wake County Parks and Recreation re-open on Sept. 5 during normal hours.
Parks with play areas include: Blue Jay Point County Park in Raleigh, Crowder County Park in Apex, Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville, Green Hills County Park in Raleigh, and Harris Lake County Park in New Hill.
Raleigh sets playground, parks updates
Raleigh playgrounds, outdoor basketball courts, sand volleyball courts and athletic fields re-open Saturday, Sept. 5.
On Sept. 12, community and neighborhood centers, museums and historic sites, art centers will also re-open. Gyms and fitness centers will remain closed.
In addition, you can begin reserving picnic shelters again on Sept. 12, and baseball and softball leagues can resume. [read more]
Apex playgrounds re-open Friday
The Town of Apex is re-opening playgrounds at 5 p.m. Sept. 4, when the state moves to Phase 2.5. See a map here of parks managed by the town of Apex.
Cary playgrounds re-open Friday
The Town of Cary is re-opening playgrounds at 5 p.m. Sept. 4. Staffed facilities, Sk8-Cary and the sprayground at Jack Smith Park will remain closed.
Fuquay-Varina playgrounds re-open Friday
At 5 p.m. Sept. 4, all town playgrounds in Fuquay-Varina will re-open. The splash pad will remain closed. read more.
Holly Springs playgrounds, fitness center to re-open
Holly Springs announced public playgrounds will re-open 5 p.m. Sept. 4, after cleaning. Drinking fountains will still be closed, so be sure to bring your own water.
In addition, the Hunt Fitness Center will re-open Wednesday, Sept. 9, with limited hours.
Knightdale playgrounds re-open Friday
According to a Knightdale spokesperson, the Town of Knightdale will open the playgrounds at Mingo Creek Park and Knightdale Station Park on Friday, Sept. 4, at 5 p.m. Crews will sanitize the playgrounds before 5 p.m. Friday.
The Harper Park playground, however, will remain closed for construction work around stormwater and erosion control.
Public bathrooms at the parks will also be open at that time and then be on a 7 a.m.-dusk schedule.
Morrisville playgrounds, fitness center re-opening plans announced
Four of the five playgrounds managed by the town re-open Friday, Sept. 4. The playground at the Morrisville Community Park is undergoing renovations but is planned to re-open in the next two-three weeks.
Morrisville is also re-opening its fitness center’s cardio equipment and weight room on Wednesday; some fitness classes will resume at limited capacity with advance signup Sept. 14. [learn more]
Wake Forest playgrounds re-open
Playgrounds managed by the Town of Wake Forest re-open Saturday, Sept. 5, the town posted. Community centers will remain closed to the public in general but will begin having limited programming. [read more]
READ MORE: 6 ideas for your staycation
READ MORE: What to know now about COVID-19 in Wake County (updates daily)
