Durham Parks and Recreation: Play More!

All month long, we've been celebrating Park and Recreation Month and hearing amazing stories from the community about how parks and trails in Durham have made an impact in residents lives! It is our mission to continue to provide access and connect our whole community to wellness, the outdoors, and lifelong learning. We hope that you take the chance to explore all that Durham Parks and Recreation has to offer and create new stories of your own! Now check out some of the stories we've received... I have taken my daughter to a lot of new parks using the list you published as a 2021 challenge. - David B. It's not so much a story as a compliment.  We attended the Laser Light Show on July 3rd.  There were some technical issues, but we still saw some cool lasers synced to songs - and it was free, so no complaints.  The next day I received an email from DPR apologizing, expressing their disappointment that the show was not up to their standards and inviting us to be VIP guests a...

By: Mal Atkinson, Resource Coordinator Mike Shelby has volunteered with West Point on the Eno and Leigh Farm Park for over seven years. Using historically accurate construction techniques and trees that would have been used in the late 1800s to early 1900s, Mike completely restored and revived the century-old grape vine that members of the Leigh Family planted. His commitment to reviving the grape vines resulted in the vine growing strong and producing scuppernong grapes annually. In addition to volunteering at Leigh Farm Park, Mike is also an integral member of the milling team at West Point on the Eno Park. He helps get the 19th-century mill stones up and running each year for the Eno Fest. Mike comes in each Spring to help the millers prep for the season ahead and is always quick to make himself available if there is an issue in the mill that requires an extra pair of skilled hands. During the height of the pandemic, DPR’s Mature Adult unit was working on producing a “virtual trips...

Our Fall Athletics line-up is sure to take home the gold! Prepare your family and friends for Durham Park and Recreation's Fall 2021 athletics leagues and offerings! From Women's Soccer and Youth Basketball to Softball and Introduction to Pickleball, participants of all ages are in for a season of fun! Registration is in full swing! We've compiled everything you need to know for all things Athletics in the upcoming season...  Adult Softball (Co-Rec & Men's) : Swing batter, batter swing! Join us for the adult softball league, playing this August through October. Men's and Co-Rec Divisions are available for ages 17 and up. Adult and Youth Tennis Lessons/Leagues : Whether you're learning how to swing a racquet or just playing for fun, we have plenty of opportunity to play tennis for both youth and adults this Fall! Adult Basketball: You got game? Join the Winter League, participate in the open gym or join fellow Mature Adults on the court. All skill levels are...

By: Lauren McKinnis, Senior Marketing Analyst In addition to National Park and Recreation Month ( learn more in another blog post ). July is also National Ice Cream Month, National Picnic Month, and National Grilling Month (there are tons more, but we decided to stick with these three for now). Our parks are the perfect spots to enjoy a picnic, ice cream or even grill! Picnic in the park Grab a blanket and your favorite foods for a picnic in one of our parks! Many of our parks offer large open spaces for you to enjoy a picnic with family and friends. Here’s a few special spots: Forest Hills Park – This 45+ acre park has plenty of spaces for picnicking! It also includes a playground, tennis courts, outdoor pool, and more! Duke Park – 17+ acres of space including a playground and dog park! West Point on the Eno Park – This 404 acre park is the perfect spot for enjoy a scenic picnic near the Eno River. Please note, there is currently some ongoing construction happening on the north si...

Summer is in full swing and so are our outdoor pools and spraygrounds! We maintain three outdoor seasonal pools and four spraygrounds for individuals and families to enjoy water activities, water exercise, and swim lessons. And they're ready to be used at their fullest potential. Forest Hills Pool 1639 University Drive 919-560-4782 Hours of Operation Hillside Pool 1221 Sawyer Street 919-560-4783 Hours of Operation Long Meadow Pool 917 Liberty Street 919-560-4204 Hours of Operation All youth and teens under 18 years of age must have an account set up by a parent/guardian in  ActiveNet  prior to utilizing the pool alone for open rec swim. All children under the age of 13 must be accompanied in the pool area at all times by someone at least 16 years of age or older. Children 5 years and younger are required to be accompanied by someone at least 16 years of age or older in the water. Everyone who enters the pool must pay the admission fee including persons who are observ...

What better way to celebrate Park and Recreation Month this July then to attend Fun Caravan, where you can enjoy fun, games, and exciting offerings at your local parks!  Fun Caravan is a mobile recreation program that brings recreation to communities throughout Durham by providing a variety of fun, active, and recreational experiences for families with children up to 12 years old. The program offers a variety of unstructured activities in the park. All children must be supervised by a caregiver at least 16 years old. Registration is not required so come drop in and join us. Weather permitting, we will be at a park near you this July! Unstructured play is critical for the healthy development of children. At Fun Caravan, we provide arts and crafts supplies and outdoor resources for games, and then encourage children and their parents to play freely! Allow your child to lead and create the games. When children are given the time and space to play liberally, they are able to practice d...

Since 1985, America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park and Recreation Month. Created by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Park and Recreation Month specifically highlights the vital and powerful role local park and recreation professionals, such as our staff at Durham Parks and Recreation, play in building stronger, more vibrant and more resilient communities all across the country. This year’s theme for Park and Recreation Month is “Our Park and Recreation Story,” and we want to highlight the stories of how our Durham community is stronger, more vibrant and more resilient because of parks and recreation.  Parks are at the center of so many experiences and memories — moments that park and recreation professionals help make happen. Our local parks are often our first experiences in nature, our introduction to a favorite hobby or physical activity. They are places to gather with friends and family, spaces to celebrate life’s special moments, spots of...