Durham Parks and Recreation: Play More!

By:  Daniele Berman, Communications Manager at Book Harvest North Carolina children’s literacy organization Book Harvest provides an abundance of books and ongoing literacy support to families and their children from birth and serves as a model for communities committed to ensuring that children are lifelong readers and learners. Our vision is of a world in which reading, learning, and access to information are considered rights, not privileges, so that all children thrive. When schools and childcare centers began closing in mid-March, our team at Book Harvest knew it was more important than ever for parents to have access to support as they worked hard to keep their children learning at home, even as many were dealing with changes to their own work as well, either working at home or dealing with the stress of job cuts and losses. We remain, as always, committed to meeting children and families where they are, even when everyone is just staying home. So over the past ten wee...

By: Morris Johnson, Recreation Specialist Exercising is necessary for a healthy and productive way of life. Some of us work out to achieve long-time goals whereas some may want to simply stretch their muscles with a brisk walk after some long hours sitting at the desk. While it is no doubt easier, and perhaps even more motivating, to get out of the house to work out at the gym or other fitness facilities, during this time there is no such luxury. However, regardless of the intensity or duration of the workout, our bodies and our minds experience the immediate benefits that come from exercising and becoming active, and it is for this reason that we should not stop working out – or postpone starting to work out – while we have to stay inside. Who's ready to workout with words!? We're sharing a great way to learn more about your community while getting healthier and becoming more active at the same time. Here is a simply plan to follow while practicing social distancing and r...

By: Mark Kinsey, Office Assistant We're coming to you with a Durham Trail Spotlight! This week we’re highlighting features of Ellerbee Creek Trail that are fun for children and their families to enjoy while keeping social distancing in mind. We’ve also created an activity sheet you can complete at home or take with you to a park! Download the activity sheet here . About the Trail Ellerbee Creek Trail is part of the North-South Greenway , which extends all the way from Horton Road to Jordan Lake. There are many fun things to explore along the way, but the one-mile section that runs from Rock Quarry Park past Edison Johnson to Northgate Park has several surprises worth discovering! If you start your adventure in Rock Quarry Park , there is a huge event field with plenty of room to be active. Your friends and family can throw a frisbee, play catch, kick a ball, play a game of tag, fly a kite and more. When was the last time you played Simon Says or Mother May I? There is al...

By: Seth Dubowsky, Historic Mill Interpreter Fitz Style Water Wheel at West Point When I first entered the West Point Mill I confess I was more interested in the building than the milling equipment. Although it is a reconstruction, the West Point Mill exhibits some great examples of post and beam carpentry. I talked a bit of history with the Millers, got a tour of the building, and got a rundown on the basic operation of the mill. No one told me about the music… Now hold up just a sec. You are probably thinking that I'm about to promote the latest festival, holiday event, or dance camp that takes place in our Durham parks. These are all great events, and they help to bring music to life in our parks, but that isn't where I'm going with this. Don't scroll down just yet. What no one told me about old mills is that each one has a sound that is unique unto itself. There are toe tapping, rhythmic harmonies that every mill produces, and anyone who has been aro...

By: Andrea Hicks, Recreation Assistant Supervisor Let’s have fun with chalk! Paint your park, driveway, sidewalks and more.  Here are some great activities that your little ones can do as well as the entire family.  Encouraging Messages are a great chalk activity. Get out and spread encouraging messages of hope during this time of uncertainty to encourage your neighbors and community. Please remember to keep in mind social distancing while doing this activity.  And let your creativity run wild.   Mosaic Chalk Art can be interactive and fun for the entire family. Create pretty mosaic chalk pieces that will brighten anyone's day while out and about. All you need is masking tape or painters tape to help outline the design on the concrete.  Once the design is taped down, use chalk to color the shapes between the tape different colors. Add a special twist by adding a short message within your art. Chalk Portraits are also a great way to spend ...

By: Jennifer McDuffie, Durham Community Trail Watch Founding Member S ome articles say a safe "social distance" while exercising is 10-12 feet or 'double the distance,' not 6 feet, due to heavier breathing and the "slip stream" effect. But our wonderful trails are just 6 feet wide! How are we to continue enjoying our trails and keep ourselves and others safe at the same time? Here are some suggestions: Wear a mask. If you don't have one, you can even make one out of an old t-shirt (no sewing even required). Announce yourself. If you are coming up behind someone on the trail, let them know so they can move off the trail to let you pass. Then pass them as far left as possible. Single file if someone is passing. If you are traveling with family and you hear someone behind or see someone ahead, drop to single file and move off the trail until they have passed. Don't pass down the middle. Whenever possible, avoid running or riding BETWEEN tw...

By: James Lim and Jennifer Smart, Water Management Drip. Drip. Drip. The average American household wastes nearly 10,000 gallons each year from easy-to-fix water leaks—that’s the amount of water needed to wash 300 loads of laundry. If that doesn’t seem like a lot, consider that across the country, easy-to-fix household leaks can add up to nearly 1 trillion gallons of water lost every year. So, as we celebrate Earth Day, let’s do something about it! With so many of us spending time at home, now is as good a time as any to take 10 minutes to look for leaks (you can even get the kids to help). Here’s how to identify leaks around your home: Turn off anything that uses water inside and outside your home. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak. Learn how to locate and read your meter in this video.   Check for toilets with silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in...

While we wish we could be together in person at Durham Central Park for our annual Earth Day celebration, we’re taking this celebration digitally and observing Earth Day on our social media platforms from April 17 through 22! During this virtual event, we’re partnering with some awesome Durham departments and organizations to generate awareness and encourage our community to be proactive in making our planet the best it can be! These organizations include Water Management , Keep Durham Beautiful , Stormwater , Sustainability Office of Durham County , and CompostNow . History of Earth Day Earth Day is an annual event celebrated around the world on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally through the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. This year, we are celebrating the 50th year of Earth Day taking place! For a detailed timeline of history and events that took place leading up to the ...