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Beautiful new basketball court in Durham NC’s Hillside Park

Sportin’ Life

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DPR DOG PARKS

Durham Parks and Recreation runs five dog parks, where you can let your pup socialize and enjoy the great outdoors off-leash:

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  • Downtown Durham Dog Park—304 Elliott St; has separate areas very small and large dogs, plus benches and waste-bag dispensers

  • Northgate Dog Park—400 W Lavender Ave; on the north end of the park, with separate areas for small and large dogs, plus water fountains, waste-bag dispensers, benches, and a kiosk

  • PetSafe Dog Park—1608 Acadia St; has separate areas for small and large dogs, plus tables, benches, water, and waste-bag dispensers

  • Piney Wood Dog Park—400 E Woodcroft Pkwy; has separate areas for small and large dogs, plus water fountains, waste-bag dispensers, benches, and a kiosk

  • Rock Quarry Dog Park—701 Stadium Dr; located along the Rock Quarry Spur Trail, which starts at the Edison Johnson Recreation Center’s parking lot and ends on the northern end of the park by the tennis courts.

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In order to gain access to these parks, your dog must be registered with DPR every year. A Dog Park Tag will be issued after your dog gets the following vaccinations:

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  • Rabies (1- or 3-year)

  • Distemper/Parvo (1- or 3-year)

  • Bordetella (1-year)

  • Negative fecal exam results (1-year).

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Click here to register online; scroll down to “Dog Park Registration” to register and pay and to complete the liability waiver. Veterinary records should be sent via email to dogpark.durham@durhamnc.gov. If you prefer to register in person, visit the DPR office at 400 Cleveland St during weekday office hours. You can also register by mail by using this address: Durham Parks and Recreation, Attn: Dog Parks, 101 City Hall Plz, Durham NC 27701. Dog Park Tags cost $17 and they’re good until December 31.

ADAPTIVE SPORTS 

Bridge II Sports (3729 Murphy School Rd, 866-880-2742, website) is a nonprofit that introduces sports to people with physical disabilities of all ages (kids, adults, and veterans). Have fun and add to your quality of life by participating in the activities they offer in Durham (at their facility except where noted otherwise). This is a great way to get an introduction to Paralympic sports like archery, air rifle, and adaptive bicycling (single and tandem). Click here to view the current calendar.

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  • Air Rifle Program—Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, and 28, at 10:30am.

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DURHAM SOFTBALL

The summer season of Durham Softball is underway. Games are held on Sundays starting at 9:40am in Pineywood Park (400 E Woodcroft Pkwy). Admission is free for these fun outdoor games, and player/team registration fees plus donations from the fans help local nonprofit partners (teams) raise funds for their programs and services. Here’s the game schedule for August 27:

 

  • PORCH-Durham vs SwingPals, 9:40am

  • North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation vs Miracle League of the Triangle, 10:45am

  • Animal Protection Society of Durham vs Families Moving Forward, 11:50am

  • NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence vs Don’t Waste Durham, 12:55pm

  • Central Piedmont Community Action of NC vs Urban Ministries of Durham, 2pm

  • Housing for New Hope vs Meals on Wheels of Durham, 3:05pm

  • Girls on the Run of the Triangle vs Vets to Vets United, 4:10pm

  • Crayons2Calculators vs South Durham Little League, 5:15pm.

 

Click here  for more info.

TWILIGHT GOLF LEAGUE

The Twilight Golf Association hosts the Tuesday Twilight Doubles League at The Preserve at Jordan Lake (840 The Preserve Trail, in Chapel Hill) from 5:30 to 8pm. Golfers at all skill levels are invited to play 9 holes of golf by forming teams with three additional golfers. Enjoy some friendly competition and improve your skills. Click here for more info and to register. 

 

The Twilight Golf Association hosts the Wednesday Twilight League at Falls Village Golf Club (115 Falls Village Ln) from 5 to 8pm. Golfers at all skill levels are invited to play 9 holes of golf by forming teams with three additional golfers. Enjoy some friendly competition and improve your skills. Click here for more info and to register. 

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The Twilight Golf Association hosts the Wednesday Twilight League at Hillandale Golf Course (1600 Hillandale Rd) from 5:15 to 8pm. Golfers at all skill levels are invited to play 9 holes of golf by forming teams with three additional golfers. Enjoy some friendly competition and improve your skills. Click here for more info and to register. 

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PONY RIDE 

The monthly Pony Ride starts at Major the Bull in CCB Plaza (201 Corcoran St) at 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 11 and ends at Ponysaurus Brewing (219 Hood St) around 9:15pm. This free, social, 5- to 8-mile bicycle ride will proceed at a leisurely pace and will be led by Eross Guadalupe. 

DURHAM PARKS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

​​Did you know that Durham Parks and Recreation has a Weather Line at 919-560-4636? If you’re planning to attend an outdoor DPR event and the weather’s iffy, just call the DPR Weather Line or visit their Facebook page to see whether the event has been cancelled.

Sign up for programs online first by opening an ActiveNet account: Click here to get the ball rolling.

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It’s not soon to start getting ready for the 2024 Durham Senior Games & SilverArts, which will be held April 15 through May 2​ for competitors age 50+. Registration begins on February 5 and runs through March 8. Start working on your game—track & field, horseshoes, shuffleboard, table tennis, swimming, cycling, cornhole, 3-on-3 basketball, basketball shooting, bocce, tennis, bowling, and/or pickleball … or your art (storytelling, music, dance, photography, drawing, painting, and/or crafts). Click here for more info and updates.

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These are just a few of the fun activities offered by DPR. Check out Play More for additional activities, classes, and more:

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BASKETBALL

Youth Open Gym

  • Walltown Recreation Center (1308 W Club Blvd)—Saturdays, June 3–August 26, noon–1:30pm; ages 7–12; free; code 18189

  • Weaver Street Recreation Center (3000 E Weaver St—Saturdays, June 3–August 26, 10am–noon; ages 5–12; free; code 18291

Teen Open Gym

  • Edison Johnson Recreation Center (500 W Murray Ave—Fridays, June 2–August 25, 6–8pm; ages 13–17; free; code 18199

  • Holton Career and Resource Center (401 N Driver St—Saturdays, June 3–August 19, 10am–1:30pm; ages 13–17; free; code 18416  |  Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, June 2–August 30, 6–8:30pm; ages 13–17; free; code 18417

  • IR Holmes Sr/Campus Hills Recreation Center (2000 S Alston Ave)—Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, June 2–August 30, 4–6pm; ages 13–17; free; code 18234

  • Lyon Park Recreation Center (1309 Halley St)—Tuesdays and Saturdays, June 3–August 29, noon–8:30pm; ages 13–17; free; code 18440

  • Weaver Street Recreation Center (3000 E Weaver St—Saturdays, June 3–August 26, noon–2pm; ages 13–17; free; code 18294

Adult Open Gym Basketball

  • Holton Career and Resource Center (401 N Driver St—Mondays, June 5–August 28, 6:15–8:45pm; ages 18–55; free; code 18418

  • WD Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville St)—Saturdays, June 3–August 26, noon–2pm; ages 18–55; free; code 18325

  • Walltown Recreation Center (1308 W Club Blvd—Wednesdays, June 7–August 30, 6–9pm; ages 18–55; free; code 18184 

Walltown Basketball Clinic

  • Walltown Recreation Center (1308 W Club Blvd)—Saturday, July 8, 9–11am; ages 7–12; $3; code 18372 

 

GOLF

Golf for Beginners

  • Hillside Park (1301 S Roxboro St)—Tuesdays, July 1–25, 11am–noon; age 18+; $12; code 18340

 

LINE DANCING

  • IR Holmes Sr/Campus Hills Recreation Center (2000 S Alston Ave)—Fridays, June 9–August 25, 9–10am; age 18+; free; code 18231

  • Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd)—Wednesdays, June  7–28, 9–10am; age 55+; $6; code 18381  |  Wednesdays, July 5–26, 9–10am; age 55+; $6; code 18382  |  Wednesdays, August 2–30, 9–10am; age 55+; $6; code 18383

Soulful Line Dance

  • WD Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville St)—Thursdays, June 1–August 3, 6:15–7:15pm; age 18+; $4; cost 18295

 

PICKLEBALL

  • IR Holmes Sr/Campus Hills Recreation Center (2000 S Alston Ave)—Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, June 5–August 29, 10am–8:30pm; age 18+; free; code 18232

  • Walltown Recreation Center (1308 W Club Blvd)—Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, June 6–August 31, 12:30–3pm; age 18+; free; code 18255

  • WD Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville St)—Mondays, June 5–August 21, 6–8pm; age 18+; free; code 18318

 

ROLLER SKATING

Roller Skating 101

  • WD Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville St)—Saturdays, June 3–24, 10–11am; ages 5–12; $16; code 18338

Open Skate

  • WD Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville St)—Mondays–Fridays, June 5–July 25, 6–8pm; ages 13–18; code 18311

 

 

SOCCER

Indoor Soccer

  • WD Hill Recreation Center (1308 Fayetteville St—Wednesdays, June 2–August 30, 6–8pm; ages 10–17; free; code 18323

 

TENNIS

Beginner Tennis Lessons

  • Elmira Avenue Park (540 Elmira Ave)—Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6–7pm; ages 5 and 6; $9; code 17665  |  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6–7pm; ages 7 and 8; $9; code 17666  |  Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6–7pm; ages 9 and 10; $9; code 17667

Raising Racquets Tennis Lessons

  • Elmira Avenue Park (540 Elmira Ave)—Mondays and Wednesdays, June 12–July 3, 6–7:30pm; ages 7–12; $13.50; code 17669  |  Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 1–27, 6–7:30pm; ages 7–12; $13.50; code 17670

Youth Tennis

  • Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd)—Wednesdays, July 12–August 16, 6–7pm; ages 7–12; $9; code 18374

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VOLLEYBALL

Walltown Open Gym Volleyball

  • Walltown Recreation Center (1308 W Club Blvd)—Mondays, June 5–August 7, 6–8:30pm; age 10+; free; code 18259

Walltown Volleyball Camp

  • Walltown Recreation Center (1308 W Club Blvd)—Thursdays, July 13 and 20, 6–7:30pm; age 10–16; $4.50; code 18373.

EAST DURHAM RUN CLUB

Runners, both beginners and experienced, are invited to join the East Durham Run Club, a weekly event cosponsored by Hi-Wire Brewing Durham and Fleet Feet Carrboro/Durham. The untimed run sessions kick off at 6:30pm every Tuesday from Hi-Wire (800 Taylor St, on the far northwest corner of Golden Belt; enter on Taylor off N Alston St or off Main St near Fayetteville St and drive around). Join your group of 10—depending on whether you choose to run 3 or 5 miles and also your pace (running speed). Afterwards, physical therapists from Upright Athlete will be available in the massage and recovery area. Click here to sign up for this free event and to be added to the email list.

DURHAM NC PARKRUN

If you like to run for fun, join Durham NC parkrun. Once you register, you can take part in timed 5k runs on Saturdays starting at 8am in Southern Boundaries Park (100 Third Fork Dr). Print out your barcode from the website so the officials can give you your time. Check out the course here, and click here to sign up/print out your barcode. It’s free; click here to see typical questions asked of the volunteer organizers (or simply write to durhamnchelpers@parkrun.com with your questions. Some of the runners relax after the weekly run at Foster’s Market in Durham (2694 Durham–Chapel Hill Blvd (aka Hwy 15-501))—if you have the time, feel free to join them.

THURSDAY EVENING RUN

The Triangle Turtles & Hares Running Group will lead a weekly Thursday Evening Run from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Everyone will meet at Tomato Jake’s (8202 Renaissance Pkwy #101) and then they’ll run for a few miles on the American Tobacco Trail. All paces are welcome; you might want to bring a headlamp.

PONY RUN CLUB

The weekly Pony Run starts at and returns to Ponysaurus Brewing (219 Hood St) every Thursday from 5:30 to around 7:30pm. You can choose either the 3-mile or 5-mile route and run at your own pace during this free event. Click here for COVID info and click here to sign up.

SATURDAY MORNING RUNCLUB

The Bull City Running Co will host the Saturday Morning RunClub from 8 to 10am; runners are encouraged to meet at either store (501 Washington St or 202 W Hwy 54). Participants of all ages and running at all paces are welcome to join in, and they can choose routes of 3 to 10+ miles. Be ready to wear a face covering before and after the run and whenever you’re 6 feet or less away from other people. Visit the Facebook event page for more info.

INDOOR DISC GOLF PUTTING LEAGUE

Hi-Wire Brewing Durham (800 Taylor St, in Golden Belt) will host the Indoor Disc Golf Putting League on Mondays from 6 to 10pm. Take your own putters (discs) and pay $6 to perfect your aim. Visit the Facebook event page for more info.

WOMEN’S EXERCISE CLASSES

Bahama Baptist Church (7917 Willardville Station Rd, in Bahama) will host a Let’s Get Moving women’s exercise class every Thursday from 7 to 8pm. Take your yoga mat or towel and be prepared to move (all fitness levels welcome) during this free class. Visit the Facebook event page for more info.

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