Durham Parks and Recreation: Play More!

After years of commitment and dedication to serving the City of Durham community, Rhonda Parker, the Director of Durham Parks and Recreation, has announced her retirement, which will begin in March 2020. It is with mixed emotions as we prepare to say farewell that we congratulate Rhonda on her successes and wish her the absolute best as she heads into this next chapter of life as a retiree. She has bravely led our department through ups and downs, new initiatives, staff changes and so much more! Before we officially say goodbye, we asked some DPR staff to share favorite memories, initiatives and words of encouragement for Rhonda and here is what they had to say! "Watching her eyes light up when Doug E Fresh hit the stage at Bimbé. It was then that I realized that our Director was cool." " One morning, on a particularly windy day, Rhonda came rushing into the building and  per usual she was saying her good mornings to everyone.  For some reason I looked up to respon...

During this time the health and safety of our residents and staff are our top priority, beginning at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, all City of Durham Parks and Recreation facilities and pools will close to the public.We have canceled and/or suspended all instructional and drop-in programs, leagues, activities, and events until further notice. The 2020 Durham Senior Games has been canceled. For more information, visit our website at  dprplaymore.org . Excitement about 2020 Durham Senior Games & SilverArts is building daily! With the opening event a little over two months away, registrations are coming in and Mature Adults all across Durham are practicing for their chosen athletic event(s) and/or working on their artistic endeavors. The Durham Senior Games will officially begin on April 13 and end on April 30. This Olympic style event is designed to create a year-round health promotion and competition for participants that are 50+ years old. Participants will compete in a wid...

When you have a team working together to reach the same goal, a lot can be accomplished in the matter of a year! Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19), which covers July 2018 through June 2019, shaped up to be an exciting year for the Residents of Durham and Durham Parks and Recreation! The list is long (and we can't fit everything in a single blog post) but here's a brief look back at some of the things Durham Parks and Recreation accomplished in FY 19... The tennis courts at Morreene Road Park were renovated, the concrete paths around the playground were removed, and the edges of the playground surface repaired. A public art installation was also included at this location. We received $144,000 in Grant Funding, $1,008 in Cash Donations and $6,093 in In-Kind Donations. We experienced a 51% increase in enrollments in After School within the past two years, increasing from 91 participants in FY17 to 139 participants in FY19. The transportation pilot, staffing, training and customer ser...

Updated on March 17, 2020: Summer camp registration has been delayed until further notice. Once a new date is confirmed we will provide at least one week’s notice prior to opening registration. Please continue checking our website and social media accounts for updates and announcements. For more information about Summer Camp options please visit our website: https://www.dprplaymore.org/366/Summer-Camps Summer is right around the corner which means it is time to prepare to register for Durham Parks and Recreation summer camps! During the summer of 2020, we are offering several Youth and Teen summer camps, for ages 5-17. From swimming and games to field trips and arts and crafts, your child will be sure to have a ton of fun! We provide a safe, inclusive environment where all children are encouraged to participate. We are committed to the development of our campers' life skills through group activities and exposure to diverse athletic and educational experiences. For a full list of 2...

Our hearts are full as we are spreading the love this February with activities and programs for all ages to enjoy! So you don't miss out on all the festivities, this blog post is a go-to guide highlighting what to mark on your calendar and make sure you're in the loop. Keep in mind, we regularly update the  calendar  on our website with activities year round so make sure to check there for more details including how how to register and contact information! FEB 5 Spread the Love :  We're spreading love in the community. Join us for an afternoon of card-making, just in time for Valentine's Day. Follow one of the templates or make your own unique creation. Cards will be donated to the Duke Children's Hospital to brighten the day of the children there. [4  p.m. - 5 p.m., I.R. Holmes Sr., Recreation Center ] FEB 11 Hearts Galore :  Hearts, hearts, and more hearts! Bring your preschooler and join us to celebrate this love-filled holiday with stories, crafts...

Did you know that Durham Parks and Recreation offers a wide variety of sports for all ages throughout the year? From volleyball to soccer, flag football to basketball, there are plenty of opportunities for you to Play More with DPR. Registration is opening very soon (if not already) for several of our youth and adult spring leagues. Grab your friends, create a team or sign up as an individual! Please note: Not all sports are offered for both adult and youth. Let's take a closer look at some athletics leagues are taking place during the upcoming 2020 Spring season... Bitty Baseball is a six week program offered to boys and girls ages 4-6 years old looking to learn the fundamentals of baseball. Games are held on Saturdays for one hour, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at C.M. Herndon Park. For more information on fees, code of conduct and registration, visit our website . Durham Girls Soccer League (DGSL) is set to kick off for girls ages 6-13 years old in both the Spring and Fal...

Did you know that January 21 is National Squirrel Appreciation Day!? What a great day to learn about one of the world's cutest mammals and celebrate our favorite squirrel mascot, Parkson Rex! History of National Squirrel Appreciation Day This 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, Squirrels actually play a large role in the ecosystem. Ever see them burying a nut in the ground for future use? Eventually, you'll notice a tree where the nut was buried - way to go Squirrels for contributing to renewing our forests! Learn more about the history of National Squirrel Appreciation Day . About Parkson Rex We welcomed Parkson Rex into the Durham Parks and Recreation family at the Fourth of July Celebration in 2018. Our former mascots, Earl and Pearl, adopted Par...

A new year means another 365 days to explore all the amazing things that Durham has to offer! From visiting new parks and playgrounds to joining an athletic league to learning a new skill, Durham Parks and Recreation is here to help you accomplish your new years resolutions and goals! But if you're looking for a fun challenge to take on in 2020, we have got you covered with all the details below... Did you know that we manage 68 parks throughout the City of Durham!? That's hundreds of acres to discover on a walk, bike ride or picnic with friends and family. For a full list of our parks, take a look at our website or visit the GoMaps website for an online map of the City of Durham's Parks and Trails systems. So what is the challenge for 2020? The 2020 DPR Park Challenge:  Visit all 68 parks before the end of the year (December 31, 2020) Download your 2020 DPR Park Challenge checklist here.  We want to see where you go! Don't forget to capture your progress by ...