(RALEIGH, NC) -- Gov. Pat McCrory and Mayor Nancy McFarlane announced today that the State of North Carolina has finalized the sale of the Dorothea Dix property to the City of Raleigh.

In April, the City agreed to purchase the Dorothea Dix property from the State for $52 million. Today, the transaction was completed and Raleigh is now the official owner of the 307-acre property.

“The Dorothea Dix sale is a big win for all of North Carolina,” Gov. McCrory said. “Our state capital will benefit from a new destination park, and we will honor the legacy of Dorothea Dix by dedicating all proceeds, nearly $52 million, to improving mental health services across the state.

“I am glad that we were able to reach a consensus that reflects the market value of the property and is fair to North Carolina taxpayers,” the governor added. “I applaud our team and Mayor Nancy McFarlane, the City Council and the City staff for their tireless efforts to make this vision a reality.”

Today’s agreement upholds the two parties’ common goals of providing funds for mental health care and space for facilities for the Department of Health and Human Services consistent with the development of a destination park for the people of Raleigh and North Carolina.

“Today is a significant moment in history for the city, as Raleigh officially assumes ownership of the Dorothea Dix Park property,” Mayor McFarlane said. “I want to thank Gov. McCrory for working with me the past two years on this final purchase agreement. I am so proud of the countless staff from both the City and State, as well as community partners and other government leaders who helped secure and preserve the park for future generations to enjoy.

“As we enter into the next stage of park planning and development, I look forward and encourage the community to engage in the park visioning and public input process; together we are going to create a world class destination park that all North Carolinians can be proud of and enjoy,” the mayor added.

The 307-acre property, which contains the Dorothea Dix Hospital and dozens of administrative buildings now used by state agencies, is located near Downtown Raleigh on the south side of Western Boulevard east of Centennial Boulevard. The site has primarily served as a mental health treatment facility since the first patient was admitted in 1856. However, the hospital was closed in 2012 after most services were transferred to the Central Regional Hospital in Butner. Under the terms of the sale, the State will retain for up to 25 years the use of the property that currently contains office buildings used by the Department of Health and Human Services.