Durham Parks and Recreation: Play More!

The Durham Girls Soccer League fall season is underway! With over 240 participants in three different age groups, the league has been growing every season! All girls ages 6 to 13 years old are welcome to sign up for both the fall and spring leagues. Games are held on Saturdays and there is a one-hour practice each week. Registration for the spring season began on October 10, so if you, or a friend, are interested, please contact Frank Sidoti or visit our website for more information! The season will begin the weekend of March 16, 2019. Stay tuned to our website for the game schedule and other important details coming soon. Interested in volunteering? The Durham Girls Soccer League is looking for volunteer head coaches and assistant coaches for the fall and spring! Please fill out the Volunteer Application Form  and an Athletics staff member will be in touch. Not quite sure if volunteering is for you? Learn more about the rewarding opportunities you can experience in...

Durham Parks and Recreation is proud to offer a wide array of mature adult programs ranging from fitness and social programs to outings and trips. Our programs are geared towards the 55 and better age group. While some of our programs have fees associated with participating, several of them do not cost participants anything if they have a Play More Card. Recent Trips On Friday, September 7, 2018, the Mature Adults boarded a bus to visit Tweetsie Railroad in Cherokee, NC. They all said it was like a “second child-hood” that day! They went to Wild-West shows, Diamond Lil’s Can-Can Revue, Country Clogging Jamboree, magic shows, Hopper and Porter’s Musical Celebration, and rode the train as much a possible! The day would not be complete without visiting some souvenir shops and enjoying lots of delicious food. Below is a picture of the Llama they met at the petting zoo as well as a close up of the train. Activity Highlight Every Tuesday, the Mature Adults meet at Walltown Pa...

Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) and Beyond Fences have teamed up once again to organize Durham’s most popular canine bonanza, Barktoberfest! On Saturday, October 27, 2018, the Durham community and their four-legged friends, can come and partake in the festivities at Durham Central Park located at 501 Foster Street, from 2:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. The event will begin immediately following the Durham Farmer’s Market, which takes place at Durham Central Park every Saturday morning. There will be food, fun, and fur-babies galore! Barktoberfest 2018 aims to encourage solidarity within the pet-lovers of Durham. Businesses and community members alike have the opportunity to share their passions through art, neighborhood involvement, music, pet health, games, activities, and socialization.  DPR continues to support and admire the work of our non-profit partner, Beyond Fences, as they faithfully serve our town through several proactive methods. Their fence program provides...

Art is a powerful way to express yourself! At the Holton Career & Resource Center, teens were given the opportunity to be creative and express themselves through wall art. They were able to turn their plain teen room into something spectacular - turning the room into a space of their own. All teens who attended the Holton summer camp were welcomed to participate and be a part of leaving a lasting impression for years to come. Teen campers worked on the project with local Durham artist, LA Chesson. They came up with the design concept and helped create the mural along the way. The design signifies their love for the City of Durham while also allowing each camper to add something personal to the mural. Under Chesson's guidance, the campers worked on the mural for a total of 9 weeks over the summer. Below are some pictures of the teens starting the background layer on the wall and then the final product. If you have not heard, Holton Career & Resource Center is now one...

Back in April, local and regional artists were encouraged to submit their qualifications to be considered to install murals at one of seven locations across Durham, including five City parks and two traffic signal boxes. These murals would mark the second iteration of the Neighborhood Park Mural Project which was piloted by Durham artists Julia Gartrell and Julienne Alexander, who created a mural at Southern Boundaries Park. In addition to supplementing the diversity of the City’s growing public art collection and supporting the facilities available at City parks,the Neighborhood Park Mural Project aims to engage local artists in the creation of murals that celebrate the culture and history of Durham’s neighborhoods. The City of Durham General Services Department, Durham Parks and Recreation, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and the Durham Cultural Advisory Board’s Public Art Committee chose seven artists to install these murals. The mural locations include East End Park...

Did you know that Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) offers facility, park, and trail rentals? If you’re planning a family party, business function, concert or event, we have plenty of venue options available to host your next gathering. Check out the in depth list of rentals below: Park & Trail Rentals Picnic Shelters To reserve a picnic shelter online, click here . (Only available through October 31) Athletic Fields Includes baseball, softball, soccer, futsal, multipurpose, tennis and basketball. To rent an Athletic Field, email Frank Sidoti or call him at 919-560-4355, ext. 27229 Campsites Email Reservations , call 919-560-4355, ext. 27202, or visit our administration office at 400 Cleveland Street, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. All campsite reservations must be made at least 10 days in advance. Event Fields For availability, complete a Trail and Event Field Rental Application Form or contact our reservations specialist by email, call ...

It may not be the start of a new year, but there is always time to make a resolution to get healthy and fit! Let Durham Parks and Recreation help accomplish those fitness goals! We have a variety of fitness facilities, drop-in fitness classes and a monthly Wellness Package for the community to enjoy. Are you looking for cardio and strength equipment to use? Stop by one of these recreation centers for access to fitness equipment to complete a quick workout! From treadmills and elliptical trainers to dumbbells and stability balls, we’ve got your workout needs covered. Each recreation center offers their own unique equipment - please keep in mind they may be different from center to center.  Edison Johnson Recreation Center Holton Career and Resource Center  I.R. Holmes, Sr. Recreation Center at Campus Hills Walltown Park Recreation Center W.D. Hill Recreation Center Looking for a drop-in fitness class this week? We offer a variety of classes for folks who are 18 year...

We're excited to start another year of My Durham programs and activities for the teens of Durham! If you haven't heard, My Durham is a free after school, evening programming at six of our local Recreation Centers for teens from 13 to 18 years old. My Durham is hosted at Holton Career and Resource Center, The Durham Teen Center at Lyon Park, W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Walltown Park Recreation Center, Weaver Street Recreation Center and I.R. Holmes, Sr. Recreation Center. In order to participate, you must sign up for a My Durham membership pass which is free and every time you visit a Recreation Center, you'll check in at the front desk with your pass. (A physical membership pass is not given unless requested) This year My Durham has expanded to two new Recreation Centers: Holton Career and Resource Center and The Durham Teen Center at Lyon Park. Now you'll have even more opportunities to hang out with friends, go on field trips and experience new things! Every My Dur...