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Beautiful new basketball court in Durham NC’s Hillside Park

Sportin’ Life

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ADAPTIVE SPORTS 

Bridge II Sports (3729 Murphy School Rd) 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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FULL MOON FEVER
Image by Murillo de Paula

Durham Parks and Recreation’s Full Moon Fever Bike Ride will take place on Saturday, March 4, starting at Mellow Mushroom (410 Blackwell St). Group 1 will head out on the American Tobacco Trail at 7:30pm to meet up with group 2 in front of Bean Traders (105 W NC Hwy 54) at 8:30pm. Everybody will ride down to the New Hope Church Road Trailhead, and will then turn around and head back. You can choose which group to ride with depending on your stamina (group 1 will ride 32 miles and group 2 will ride 16). Helmets and lights are required; take your mask just in case riders end up being within 6 feet of each other. You’ll probably be out until at least 10:30pm. If it rains, the ride will be canceled. No signup is necessary for participating in this free event; visit the Facebook event page for more info. 

PONY RIDE 

The monthly Pony Ride starts at Major the Bull in CCB Plaza (201 Corcoran St) at 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 14 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

Durham Parks and Recreation is looking to hire certified lifeguards to join its Aquatics team. Qualifications include having a valid American Red Cross Certificate (Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED) or a certificate by a similar national organization. (If you’re a strong swimmer but not certified as a lifeguard, please note the American Red Cross’s classes posted on the WORD page.) DPR lifeguards are paid by the hour and the hourly rates range between $17.99 and $21.56. If you need more info, write to DPRaquatics@DurhamNC.gov; click here to apply.

Basketball
  • Teen Open Gym Basketball (ages 13–18)

    • Lyon Park (1309 Halley St)—Tuesdays and Thursdays 6–8:30pm, and Saturdays 1–2pm; activity code #15676; free

    • IR Holmes Sr/Campus Hills (2000 S Alston Ave): Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 4–6pm; activity code #15899; free

    • Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd): Sundays 1–3pm; activity code #15817; free

    • Holton (401 S Driver St): Mondays 6–8:30pm, Fridays 6–9pm, and Saturdays 10am–1:30pm; activity code #16176; free

    • WD Hill (1308 Fayetteville St); activity code #15980; free

  • Night Flight Free Basketball League (ages 13–18)

    • IR Holmes/Campus Hills (2000 S Alston Ave)—Fridays, February 11–April 29, 6–9pm; activity code #15802​

    • Edison Johnson (500 Murray Ave)—Fridays, February 11–April 29, 6–9pm; activity code #15806

    • Lyon Park (1309 Halley St)—Fridays, February 11–April 29, 6–9pm; activity code #15805

    • WD Hill (1308 Fayetteville St)—Fridays, February 11–April 29, 6:30–9:30pm; activity code #16232

    • Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd)—Fridays, February 11–April 29, 6–9pm; activity code #15807

    • Weaver Street (3000 E Weaver St)—Fridays, February 11–April 29, 6–9pm; activity code #15800

  • Mature Adult Open Gym Basketball (age 55+)—Thursdays 5–8:30pm, at Holton (401 S Driver St); activity code #16181; free

  • Adult Open Gym Basketball (age 19+)—Wednesdays 6–9pm, at Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd); activity code #15794; $4.

​​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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Click on the DPR logo to view the January–May 2023 issue of Play More.

Pickleball (age 18+)
  • WD Hill (1308 Fayetteville St)—Fridays noon–3pm; activity code #15984; free

  • IR Holmes/Campus Hills (2000 S Alston Ave)—Mondays 10am–1pm, Tuesdays 6:15–8:15pm, Wednesdays 6:30–9:30am, Fridays 10am–1pm; activity code #15893; free 

  • Lyon Park (1309 Halley St)—Mondays 10am–noon; activity code #15771; free 

  • Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd) (age 16+)—Tuesdays–Thursdays 12:30–3pm, Saturdays 2–5:30pm; activity code #15816; free

Teens
  • Games Over Gangs (ages 13–18)—Holton (401 N Driver St); Wednesday, February 9, 1–4pm; activity code #16173; free

  • Open Rec (ages 13–19)—Lyon Park (1309 Halley St); Monday–Friday 6–8:30pm, Saturdays 9:30am–2pm; activity code #15679; free

  • Online Music Writing (ages 12–18)—Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd);
    Saturdays January 8–29, 10–11am; activity code #16000; free

  • Teen Night (ages 13–18)

    • WD Hill (1308 Fayetteville St)—Fridays 6–9pm; activity code #15981; free

    • Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd)—Fridays 6–9pm; activity code #15818; free

    • Holton (401 N Driver St)—Fridays 6–9pm; activity code #16166; free

    • Weaver Street (3000 E Weaver St)—Fridays 7–10pm; activity code #15812; free.

Various activities
  • Line Dancing—IR Holmes (2000 S Alston Ave); Fridays 9–10am; activity code #15882; free

  • Chinese Shotokan Karate

    • (beginners ages 6–12)—Edison Johnson (500 Murray Ave); Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 11–February 17, 6:15–7:15pm; activity code #15828; free

    • (beginners age 13+)—Edison Johnson (500 Murray Ave); Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 11–February 17, 7:15–8:15pm; activity code #15831; free

  • Youth Hip Hop Dance (ages 7–12)—Holton (401 N Driver St); Mondays, January 10–February 7, 6–6:45pm; activity code #16131; free

  • Drumming Class (ages 8–12)—Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd); Fridays, January 14–February 18, 6–6:45pm; activity code #15821; $6.75

  • Tae Kwon Do (age 16+)—Walltown Park (1308 W Club Blvd); Wednesdays, January 12–February 16, 6:30–8pm; activity code #15995; free.

Young Basketball Player
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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