CLICK TO SEE SKYWATCHING SESSIONS, FREE EVENTS AT FOUR LOCAL STATE PARKS, AND DPR OUTDOOR EVENTS.
The Durham Senior Games are on
Durham Parks and Recreation announces that they’ll go ahead with the Durham Senior Games & SilverArts Showcase from April 26 to May 18. Men and women age 50 and up are encouraged to choose from a wide range of athletics (including basketball shooting, pickleball, and table tennis) to compete in, and also to consider participating in the literary and arts showcase (including heritage crafts, writing, and photography). The registration period is Monday, March 1 to Friday, April 2.
Click here to get your registration packet online or have one mailed to you by contacting Michael Honeycutt via email. If you’d rather register in person at DPR’s downtown office (400 Cleveland St), call 919-560-4355 to set up an appointment; office hours are 8am to 5pm on Mondays and Tuesday–Friday 8am to 1pm. Safe, social distancing will be practiced at all events. Registration fees will be $14 ($19 for non-city residents). If you have a Play More Card, you can get a 10% discount. There’s an extra fee of $24 for golf.A discounted rate of 10% will be given to individuals with a Play More Card. Registration fees do not include golf, which is an additional $24. Click here for more info and to see the entire schedule. Bike Durham
Bike Durham’s Community Meeting 2021 Kickoff will be held on Wednesday, February 17, 7–8pm. Meet Bike Durham’s new board members and talk about the 2021–2023 strategic goals, budget review, and advocacy priorities. Click here to sign up and attend this Zoom event.
Fitness and fun
Many of us who enjoy the outdoors and also Durham Parks and Recreation’s indoor and outdoor programs and features. While the pandemic has caused the closure of most DPR facilities since March, some programs are accepting participants while practicing social distancing and heightened cleanliness routines.
Here’s what’s open right now:
UPCOMING FUN ACTIVITIES AT DPR. Sign up for programs online first by opening an ActiveNet account: Click here to get the ball rolling (be sure to note the activity code(s)):
Design your own walking tours
Here’s a fun page from the OLLI at Duke’s online Learning for Life calendar (OLLI is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute). It comes in handy for people who are tired of being cooped up and want to go out and get some exercise and see things of interest.
Near the top of the page (on the left-hand side) is a link for touring famous museums from around the world, such as the Guggenheim, the Louvre, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Continue down the page and see three presentations that “street historian” John Schelp put together centered on the vintage local postcards from his collection. The presentations can serve as the basis for your own walking or biking tours where you can learn so much about Durham’s rich history. Part 1 covers West Durham, Duke University, and Erwin Mills; Part 2 covers Watts Hospital, Christian’s Mill, and part of downtown; and Part 3 covers parts of downtown, Hayti, North Carolina Central University, and the beginnings of Research Triangle Park. Enjoy your time outdoors! Learn new coping skills
Dr Tiffany Hopkins, a clinical psychologist at UNC–Chapel Hill, is uploading daily videos to her new 5 Minute Coping Skills YouTube channel. Visit when you start to feel stressed and learn coping techniques like Paced Breathing and Sensory Awareness. Visit Dr Hopkins’ channel here and subscribe so that you can add her short, helpful videos to your daily routine.
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.
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Did you know that Durham Parks and Recreation has a Weather Line at 919-560-4636? If you’re planning to attend a 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. |