DPR History: At A Glance

We’ve got a past...and it goes back to the early 1900’s! Durham Parks and Recreation has years and years of history and we're excited to share it all with you! Our website now features an in-depth, interactive timeline of the History of Durham Parks and Recreation. From constructing and acquiring buildings to organizing events to developing new parks and playgrounds, we have done it all! 

Here’s a quick overview of what has happened in our history over the years…

1900’s - Brodie Duke donated land for, what would later be, Duke Park and the Civic League, created by Mattie Southgate Jones, urged the City Council to create public parks.

1910’s - The Durham Country Club was the first recreation facility open to the public in Durham, privately funded by John Sprunt Hill and other young Durhamites. Land for water reservoirs was donated that would be developed into new lakes for fishing and boating.

1920’s - Durham started parks and recreation with unofficial summer playgrounds. The first Director was C.R. Wood, and held the position for thirty five years, with only a two-year absence to serve in World War II. Lake Michie dam was built and is surrounded by 480 acres of lake and beautiful wooded scenery.

1930’s - Duke Park, donated by Brodie Duke, was developed with a pool, tennis courts, and a playground, even though it had much opposition in the neighborhood. John Sprunt Hill donated land for Hillside Park and purchased, then donated, the Durham Athletic Park. The Recreation Department operated 20 playgrounds and park centers and attendance was at a record 375,311 for the three month operating period.

1940’s - The Durham Athletic Park was made available for professional baseball. Edgemont Community Center, East End Park and W.D. Hill opened.

1950’s - The result of a successful bond issue this year made it possible to build East Durham, West Durham, E.D. Mickle, T.A. Grady, and Walltown Recreation Centers. Erwin Field, Lyon Park, and Lakewood Park were also developed. At this time, the Department’s Director C.R. Woods stated, “The Recreation Department’s activities now cover all sexes, races, and ages.”

1960’s - This decade saw tremendous growth including the purchase of land at Lake Michie that included Spruce Pine Lodge. With the addition of this land, the Department’s total park acreage reached 1,200 acres. By the end of the decade, the Durham park system was comprised of 24 community and neighborhood parks.

1970’s - During this decade, the number of Durham parks continued to grow. In addition to West Point on the Eno, 20 other parks were developed. The Department also established a summer day camp for handicapped youth, athletic programming for women, recreation programming at Public Housing sites, and the initiation of a mobile recreation concept which took activities to low-income neighborhoods.

1980’s - By this time, there were more than 60 parks in the City, rivaling any park system in the state for comprehensive coverage of municipality. The “Fun Caravan” was officially born from an earlier concept of recreation, where recreation activities are directly brought to select neighborhoods and encourage play in the parks.

1990’s - I.R. Holes, Sr. Recreation Center and Edison Johnson Arts, Athletic and Aquatics Center opened. Durham Parks and Recreation officially gets a presence on the web, after piloting a web page for the 1997 Bimbe Festival. The Department celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a celebration in City Hall that included participation from many of the Department’s former directors, as well as the Mayor and City Manager.

2000’s and on…
  • Durham Parks and Recreation opens its first off-leash recreation area at Piney Wood Park.
  • Special Events became established include first annual Woofstock (now called Barktoberfest), first annual Latino Festival, Santa Paws, Pooch Plunge, DisABLE the Label, Holiday Parade and Fun Fest.
  • DPR launched its new mission statement, “Durham Parks and Recreation provides opportunities for our community to Play More.”
  • The Low Ropes Course at Spruce Pine Lodge and High Ropes Discovery Course at Bethesda Park was formally opened.
  • DPR is officially Nationally Accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).
  • Skatepark opened in Durham Central Park.
  • Holton Career and Resource Center and Walltown Park Recreation Center opened for official DPR use.
  • DPR Mascots, Earl and Pearl, decided it's time to retire but welcome Parkson Rex as the new mascot!

While this does not even begin to cover all of the fun and exciting changes we’ve experience over the years,, you can dive deeper into the archives by clicking here.

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