Spend an Afternoon in the Park

By Caitlin Avinger, Recreation Coordinator for Cultural Heritage Programs

Picture this - it’s a beautiful North Carolina summer day with blue skies, low humidity and birds chirping! Where do you want to spend it!? How about at West Point on the Eno! After all, people have enjoyed relaxing and playing there for centuries! West Point on the Eno, located at 5101 N Roxboro Street, has served as a gathering place for recreation and relaxation since the 1780s, when the Mill was founded, all the way up to today.

During the West Point Mill’s heyday in the 1800s, people would bring their corn or wheat to be processed into flour or cornmeal. While they waited, they would enjoy a nice swim in the mill pond or catch up with friends over a picnic while children played games. In the early to mid-twentieth century, young folks would drive out to West Point for dances, camping trips, and for a scenic getaway from the quickly growing City of Durham.

Today, West Point on the Eno has been a park for over 50 years and continues to be a favorite destination for people who are looking for a beautiful park to play, relax, and thrive! So we encourage you to take a minute and think when was the last time you took an afternoon to enjoy the park?

You'll have the opportunity to really explore West Point on the Eno on Saturday, September 10 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 'An Afternoon in the Park'. You're invited to join us for old-school fishing in the cool water of the Eno River, historic games with friends and family, hayrides, crafts, and more! This event is free and open to all ages! Learn more by visiting ActiveNet.