DPR Celebrates Durham Creek Week

 


Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) celebrates Creek Week, a week-long celebration of local waters throughout North Carolina. Hosted by the City of Durham Public Works Department’s Stormwater Division and Keep Durham Beautiful, the celebration begins on March 18th, 2023, and ends on March 25th. Creek Week is a time to discover and clean up our local streams. It has been celebrated in Durham since 2009. "Creek Week is all about discovering and maintaining our local streams and watersheds. Maintaining healthy watersheds is important not only to the local ecosystem but also everyone who resides in the surrounding area," says DPR's Recreation Coordinator Caitlin Sasse.

To date, 4,117 volunteers have collected 190,637 pounds of litter. In conjunction with multiple environmental organizations and local municipal departments, Creek Week offers recreational, educational, and volunteer opportunities to allow everyone to enjoy and contribute to healthy waters in our area. “This is a perfect opportunity for people who care about clean drinking water and litter-free neighborhoods to help make a difference,” said Dawn Keyser, program coordinator with Keep Durham Beautiful. “Working together we can prevent litter pollution in Durham and build a safe and healthy environment.” 

Durham's creeks and lakes are some of the city's most beautiful features. They are also an important part of keeping our area healthy and prosperous. Clean and healthy waterways provide a variety of less-tangible benefits; They boost jobs, property values, and tourism. "Some additional benefits of a healthy watershed include erosion control, increase biodiversity, water storage and filtration, flood control, soil formation, and of course recreation," said Sasse. "Visiting a nearby stream river or lake such as; Ellerbe Creek, the Eno River, or Lake Michie, and simply recreating or helping with a clean-up is a great way to make a difference in our local 
environment while connecting with your community."

Throughout the week, residents will have a chance to join litter cleanups, take virtual tours, and participate in several fun creek and trail exploration events. Interested in discovering and protecting Durham's local waterways? To participate in a cleanup, visit the Creek Week Events Page. 

DPR featured events

Saturday, March 18, 2023
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Twin Lakes Park
439 Chandler Rd, Durham, NC 27703

Monday, March 20
7 a.m. - 8 a.m.
West Point on the Eno
5101 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27704

Lake Michie Clean Up: Personal Motor Boar Launch
Wednesday, March 22
12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Lake Michie Park and Marina
2802 Bahama Rd, Bahama, NC 27503

Wednesday, March 22, 2023
2 p.m. - 4p.m. 
Lake Michie Park and Marina
2802 Bahama Rd, Bahama, NC 27503


Preregistration is required for all events. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by a registered adult.
Register online at dprplaymore.org, or the administration office.



About DPR's Outdoor Recreation Unit
Durham Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) Outdoor Recreation unit offers outdoor recreation and environmental education programs for all ages. From kayaking programs to nature hikes, cave exploration to lunar exploration, and moonlight geo paddles to overnight camping experiences, they have a multitude of opportunities for you and your friends and family to enjoy the outdoors together. The majority of their programs do not require prior experience and equipment is generally provided.


About Keep Durham Beautiful
Keep Durham Beautiful is a nonprofit, volunteer organization working in partnership with the City of Durham General Services Department and Durham County to encourage residents, businesses, and community organizations to protect the environment and enhance the appearance of Durham through cleanup events, beautification projects, waste reduction, and educational activities. To learn more, visit the website and follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram, flickr, and Twitter.