A Banner Year for Durham Parks Foundation
By: Annette Smith
Durham Parks Foundation (DPF) has definitely lived its mission to preserve, strengthen and expand parks, trails, open space and recreational opportunities in Durham through diverse community involvement, fundraising, partnerships and education in 2019! In just our fourth year we have received $250,000 in grant funds, events sponsorships and individual donations!
The benefits of our work can be seen in many parks and 2020 will continue these opportunities! Here are just a few highlights of our work:
Sponsorships for Citywide Festivals, Durham Senior Games and the NC: This year Durham Parks Foundation managed the financial sponsorships for Durham Parks and Recreation’s amazing City-wide festivals and tournaments. These include the 50th Annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival and the 2019 US Tennis Association NC 40 & Over State Championship Tournament.
Hillside Park Basketball Courts: With tremendous support from FILA USA and the Tamia and Grant Hill Foundation the basketball courts at Hillside Park were resurfaced, repainted and have become a destination! This project also included landscaping, new fencing, new goals and the commission of a local artist, Sarahlayne Calva, to paint a mural at the entrance to the courts. The City of Durham was awarded a “Great Place for Public Art” award from the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association. More importantly, the project has reestablished Hillside Park as a beautiful and safe place to play outside.
The Environmental Education Pavilion at West Point on the Eno Park: The EEP was constructed during the summer of 2018 with the donations of DPF’s Inaugural Members. This facility has allowed Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) to increase its environmental education programming three-fold! In 2019 we installed electricity to the building and added a cistern for rainwater catchment. Most importantly we began the multiyear project of restoring the 5-acre field where the EEP is located to a native Piedmont Prairie. During the summer volunteers worked to plant over 8,000 native grasses and pollinators in the first phase of this habitat restoration project! The astronomy pad in the center of the prairie will be completed in time for the December Geminids meteor showers!
DPF is working with Extra Terrestrial Projects to provide training for DPR Park Maintenance crews. This training is focused on the identification of and care for native grasses and pollinator plants. We hope to expand habitat restoration to other parks and trails in Durham.
No project is too small: Individual donations supported the installation of a tool shed at Sandy Creek Park so that the Friends of Sandy Creek Park have a secure place to keep their tools for working in this beautiful natural preserve. DPF holds funds for several neighborhood groups so that they can work on specific park projects. DPF donations sponsored the installation of a cistern at the Mangum McGown House at West Point on the Eno Park, providing water for the huge demonstration garden behind the house.
2020 plans: DPF will continue its work on habitat restoration at the EEP. We are also providing funding support for a new dog park behind the Edison Johnson Recreation Center in Rock Quarry Park. With individual donations and Durham Open Space and Trail funding we will be installing a History Grove and other park improvements in honor of the late Larry Stogner at Sandy Creek Park.
Consider making your Giving Tuesday or end of year donation local. Durham Parks Foundation matches its grant support through individual donations and volunteer time. We exist to invest in the public lands of Durham, join us! Donate today!
Durham Parks Foundation (DPF) has definitely lived its mission to preserve, strengthen and expand parks, trails, open space and recreational opportunities in Durham through diverse community involvement, fundraising, partnerships and education in 2019! In just our fourth year we have received $250,000 in grant funds, events sponsorships and individual donations!
The benefits of our work can be seen in many parks and 2020 will continue these opportunities! Here are just a few highlights of our work:
Sponsorships for Citywide Festivals, Durham Senior Games and the NC: This year Durham Parks Foundation managed the financial sponsorships for Durham Parks and Recreation’s amazing City-wide festivals and tournaments. These include the 50th Annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival and the 2019 US Tennis Association NC 40 & Over State Championship Tournament.
DPF is working with Extra Terrestrial Projects to provide training for DPR Park Maintenance crews. This training is focused on the identification of and care for native grasses and pollinator plants. We hope to expand habitat restoration to other parks and trails in Durham.
No project is too small: Individual donations supported the installation of a tool shed at Sandy Creek Park so that the Friends of Sandy Creek Park have a secure place to keep their tools for working in this beautiful natural preserve. DPF holds funds for several neighborhood groups so that they can work on specific park projects. DPF donations sponsored the installation of a cistern at the Mangum McGown House at West Point on the Eno Park, providing water for the huge demonstration garden behind the house.
2020 plans: DPF will continue its work on habitat restoration at the EEP. We are also providing funding support for a new dog park behind the Edison Johnson Recreation Center in Rock Quarry Park. With individual donations and Durham Open Space and Trail funding we will be installing a History Grove and other park improvements in honor of the late Larry Stogner at Sandy Creek Park.
Consider making your Giving Tuesday or end of year donation local. Durham Parks Foundation matches its grant support through individual donations and volunteer time. We exist to invest in the public lands of Durham, join us! Donate today!
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