Durham Parks and Recreation: Play More!

By: Mal Atkinson, Resource Coordinator John Rives exemplifies what a volunteer should be. As a longtime member of the Durham Community Trail Watch he has contributed countless of hours to the city’s trails and greenways. Additionally, John has coordinated or led the Full Moon Fever Ride since 2013. On Saturday August 21 John led a group of 20 riders, many of them first timers, up the American Tobacco Trail to experience trail riding at night. Durham Parks and Recreation’s volunteers have fun while making a huge difference. Whether they are building and maintaining trails, helping with an event, or working with our youth, we couldn’t do it without them. Thank you, John for your commitment to the Durham community. Thank you, John for Playing More with DPR! This Fall is full of opportunities to volunteer with Durham Parks and Recreation! From special events to park and trail cleanups to coaching youth sports, we have plenty of ways for residents to give back and be part of making a d...

We are excited to announce the official release of our September - December 2021 Play More Guide! We've got 68 pages of fun, interactive and educational programs and activities for all ages, intensity levels and interests. Whether you go on a History Hike at West Point on the Eno or sign up for the Bike Rodeo at Walltown Park Recreation Center, there is something for everyone! Don't wait too long to sign up! Spots fill up fast! If the program you are interested in requires preregistration, head over to ActiveNet to register today! Please note: All information in the program guide is subject to change. Please refer to the COVID-19 page on our website for the most up-to-date information on our openings and closings. How do I register for a program? We have an online registration portal, called Active Net , that allows participants to register for most programs in the comfort of their own home. You can search for your favorite programs by keyword, age, day, time, location and mo...

Lifeguarding has been seen traditionally as a summer job for teenagers, but did you know Durham Parks and Recreation employs lifeguards year-round? Campus Hills Pool and Edison Johnson Aquatic Center are two of the City of Durham's Indoor year-round facilities. Regardless of the season, the pool is always 84 degrees and open for the community with lifeguards always present in case of an emergency. Durham Parks and Recreation is continually recruiting, training, and hiring lifeguards to keep pools open and swimmers safe. In our recruitment efforts, Durham Parks and Recreation is offering FREE American Red Cross Lifeguard Training classes through our Durham Aquatic School (DAS). These training classes, normally a $190 cost, are offered in the hope that class participants will take their hard-earned lifeguarding certification and work for Durham Parks and Recreation. Additionally, by providing the training at no cost, the City of Durham aims to remove the barrier for entry and make ...

By: Annette Smith, Grants and Special Projects Analyst, Sr For the past four years, the Durham Parks Foundation has worked to develop a memorial project in honor of the late Larry Stogner at Sandy Creek Park.  Larry Stogner was a well-known, and much beloved, news anchor for ABC-11 television station. In early 2015 Larry announced his retirement as a journalist with a very honest and frank discussion of his diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The clip of this announcement became a "viral" sensation on social media. Larry was a daily visitor to Sandy Creek Park. Six days a week Larry and his dogs, Beauty and Beast, visited the park for their morning exercise. Larry lost his battle with ALS in October 2016. With funding from the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission and generous support from Larry’s friends and family a History Grove has been completed at the entrance to the park. This area was designed with native trees and plants that will extend the park’s re...

By Katrina Wood, Cultural Heritage Master Program Specialist As one of DPR’s representatives at Leigh Farm Park, I often hear visitors say “I didn’t know this was here.” And you might not either! Leigh Farm Park is one of the department’s two cultural heritage parks, the other being West Point on the Eno. Leigh Farm is located near I-40 and Highway 54, right before you head into Chapel Hill. After driving past an office park and apartment complex the visitor enters the park’s gates and is treated to a view of a different era.  Each building on the Leigh Farm site contributes to the historical background. Though visitors begin at the park’s Visitor’s Center, the 1830s Leigh Farm House anchors the old farm. It features multiple additions that were built over 120 years as the Leigh Family (and their financial success) grew. Richard Stanford and Ann Leigh came from prominent families and continued to be prominent on their own land, a wedding gift from Stanford’s father. Stanford was a ...

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...