Durham Parks and Recreation: Play More!

By: Mal Atkinson, Resource Coordinator The Woodcroft Women’s Club (WWC) was formed in the mid 1980’s to help cultivate a sense of camaraderie and to serve their local community through fundraising and volunteer efforts. For nearly 20 years, the WWC has been a committed partner helping keep a section of American Tobacco Trail spotless for everyone to enjoy. The WWC Adopt-a-Trail group meets one day every other month to clean the section of the American Tobacco Trail that runs through Woodcroft and neighboring communities. The women of the club (and some spouses) have a strong desire to keep our Durham community beautiful and inviting to nature lovers. As we enter a new year and reflect on 2021, we are full of gratitude for all the volunteers that have given countless of hours to DPR and our programs including the WWC. The club has given over 1,000 volunteers hours to the Adopt-A-Park/Trail program. We should all take a moment to be mindful of all the good people and things in our lives ...

Get ready to go nuts! If you didn't know already, Friday, January 21 is National Squirrel Appreciation Day and we love squirrels so much that we're celebrating all week long! It's the perfect time to learn about one of the world's cutest mammals and celebrate our favorite squirrel mascot, Parkson Rex! We'll be sharing some fun facts about squirrels as well as offering a chance to win a DPR Prize Pack with daily contests on our social media pages! Continue reading for more about the history of National Squirrel Appreciation Day and our mascot, Parkson Rex, as well as how you can enter to win a DPR Prize pack on this nutty day with us! History of National Squirrel Appreciation Day National Squirrel Appreciation Day was established in 2001 by Christy Hargrove, a wildlife rehabilitation specialist who desired to encourage positive attitudes and kind hearts toward these bushy-tailed, nut-loving creatures. While some might consider these tree climbing critters a nuisance,...

Are you a recently engaged bride or groom!? Do you know someone who just said yes! Once the excitement and celebrating has settled, Durham Parks and Recreation is here to help take care of one huge piece of wedding planning...confirming the venue!  One of the first steps in wedding planning is finding the location/venue and securing the date of your big day! Here in Durham, we have three Special Use Facilities that are equipped and ready to host your ceremony and reception.  Durham Armory In the heart of Bull City, less than 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport located at 212 Foster Street, Durham, NC. Conveniently located near parking garages.  Building Capacity - Ballroom/Auditorium - 585 (without tables & chairs), Balcony - 314, Birch Room - 20, Oak Room - 30 Amenities - Large kitchen (industrial stove, double sink, microwave, refrigerator & ice machine), Heating and air conditioning, Coatroom, Snack bar, Tables (25 - 72 inch round tables, 40 ...

We're saying goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022! As we swing into a new year, we're excited for another 365 days of exploring our trails, adventuring around our parks, and best of all, getting to participate in all the programs and activities being offered by DPR! We're continuing to plan our programs with YOU in mind! A new year also means a new chance for resolutions! It could mean you're setting goals to exercise more, to learn a new sport, or volunteer in your community. Either way, we are here to help reach those goals. Visit our website for the most up-to-date information on openings and closings and browse ActiveNet to learn about our current programs and activities (both virtual and in-person). For volunteer opportunities, visit our website or iVolunteer to see how you can begin giving back to your community! Speaking of goals and resolutions, here's one that everyone can participate in...we challenge you to visit all 68 parks in the City of Durham! That...

By: Kelsey Warren, Recreation Specialist What looks like a empty piece of land will soon be filled with some delicious fruits and vegetables in a community garden coming to W.D. Hill Recreation Center...and you can be part of the volunteer team to make it happen! For over 5 years the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr has been celebrated at W.D. Hill Recreation Center, a day that brings out the community and honors the life of Dr. King through the arts. It’s a day of fanfare and entertainment and is always looked forward to by community members who gather into the center to experience all that the staff have put together for the event.  When it came time to plan the MLK event last year, we were in a very interesting predicament with COVID-19 and all the restrictions that were put in place to keep everyone as safe as possible. Unfortunately, it was clear that the traditional layout of the event was not something that would be likely and we were left with two choices: pivot or cance...

By: Mal Atkinson, Resource Coordinator “Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into a future of which we can all be proud.” – Helen Dyer Coach2Inspire is a student led organization at Duke University founded by Abhi Balu. It is a nationally recognized non-profit dedicated to positive youth development. Since 2019 Coach2Inspire has provided nearly 1350 service hours to DPR’s youth basketball program. When asked why he created the organization Abhi said that “Some of the most influential people in my life were coaches, and I wanted to pay that forward to the youth of Durham, impacting not only their physical/athletic development, but also their growth as teammates, leaders, and people.” From coaching in DPR’s leagues to leading a socially distanced basketball clinic during the pandemic to running outdoor clinics at local parks in the offseason. Coash2Inspire’s coaches have worked with hundreds of Durham’s kids using baske...

By: Tammy Brown, Recreation Resource Manager On September 13, 2021, our very own Cathy Reagan, Recreation Assistant Supervisor, was selected as the 2021 League Volunteer Service Award (Given by Omega Sports) recipient for the United States Tennis Association North Carolina. This award is presented to the individuals who made generous contributions to the USTA League Tennis program that have resulted in the growth of tennis on the local and/or state level.  USTA’s Director of Adult Play, Dani Broadstreet said that “newer league coordinators reach out to Cathy when they need help setting things up, and Cathy is always willing to take time out of her day to walk them through things.” Cathy is always willing to help with all things league tennis-related. Cathy is an excellent source of knowledge and is an incredible volunteer during state league championships. She is willing to do anything needed to make the championships run smoothly. Cathy also sits on the Adult League Committee, w...

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right through Downtown Durham! Join us in celebrating the holiday season by attending the Durham Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 18 starting at 11 a.m. Cheer on dynamic floats, hometown bands, drill teams, schools, and community groups as they make their way down Main Street.  We have lined up some special guests that will be part of this year's parade! We're excited to welcome Mayor-elect, Elaine M. O'Neal, as the 2021 Holiday Parade Marshal. Read more about O'Neal is her bio on our website . And the 2021 Holiday Parade Emcee is WRAL Evening Anchor, Lena Tillett.  Make sure you don't leave before the parade is over or you'll miss the jolliest special guest of them all! The procession will conclude with a guest appearance from Santa! The parade will start at the Health Department (Main and Dillard Streets) and end near Duke University East Campus (Main Street and Buchanan Boulevard). Designated performance are...