Current Initiatives

Past Initiatives

Duke Park Community Mural

This community-based project acknowledges and celebrates the diversity of Durham through art. The project was granted a permit from the City, and a dedicated committee of Durham locals worked to complete it. To ensure that the mural represents the Duke Park and larger Durham community, the committee sought community input through door-to-door visits, online surveys, drop boxes, social media, newsletters, listservs and park events. The project was sponsored by the Durham Parks Foundation but funded by community donations. The mural was completed on July 15, 2023 with a community celebration.

Piney Wood Pickleball Courts

The Piney Wood Pickleball Courts opened for public play on December 18, 2023 with a grand opening celebration scheduled for January 20, 2024. The long awaited 12 court facility received funding through the Durham Parks Foundation and will be the host of the Inaugural Piney Wood Bull City Open Tournament hosted by the Durham Parks Foundation and the Durham Area Pickleball Players.

Merrick-Moore Inclusive Playground

Durham Parks Foundation funded the installation of poured-in-place, solid surfacing at the Merrick-Moore Park Playground to ensure that the playground was accessible to users with mobility impairments. The solid surface provides the most inclusive user experience for those with mobility impairments.

A sensory garden was added with funding via a grant from the Burt’s Bees Foundation.

The late Greg Sousa on his bicycle.

Greg Sousa Memorial Bike Stations

In July 2016, we lost one of the nicest guys you would ever have the honor to meet - Greg Sousa. Prior to his last stages of illness, Greg was an avid bike commuter and used the American Tobacco Trail to travel to and from his job, for fitness and to keep moving during times of recovery as he battled cancer. With approval of the City of Durham Parks and Rec, Durham Parks Foundation accepted donations to install Greg Sousa Memorial Bike Repair stations. The campaign resulted in the installation of 3 bike stations along the American Tobacco Trail.

A photo of Durham basketball courts.

Hillside Basketball Courts

With funding from FILA North America and the Tamia and Grant Hill Foundation, DPF helped transform and revitalize Hillside park with the fusion of sport and art. The refurbishment has improved the quality of three courts, offering a clean and safe environment for visitors. The updates included court resurfacing, new backboards, and renewed fencing and landscaping. In August 2019, the City was awarded a Great Places for Public Art award from the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association for this project.

A pup enjoys Durham dog park amenities.

Pet Safe Dog Park at Duke Park

Durham Parks and Recreation was approached by representatives of Duke Park Neighborhood Association about the wish for a small dog park within Duke Park. DPF secured a $25,000 award from PetSafe for the development of the dog park. The PetSafe Dog Park was completed in 2018 and features two separate enclosed areas - a small dog area and a large dog area.

A map of Sandy Creek natural trails.

Sandy Creek Natural Trails

DPF received a matching grant from the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission to substantially improve over one mile of trails in Sandy Creek Park. This grant, funded by the Board of Durham County Commissioners, helped connect the main section of the park to the Garrett Road neighborhoods with an improved natural surface trail. A second loop trail around one of the park’s three large ponds was also greatly improved. This pond is teeming with wildlife, and the upgrade provides a trail that is safer and more environmentally built to protect the sensitive wetlands.

Plantings going in place at Sandy Creek Park.

Stogner History Grove

DPF developed a memorial project in honor of the late Larry Stogner at Sandy Creek Park.  With funding from the Durham Open Space and Trails Commission and support from Larry’s friends and family, DPF completed a History Grove and several other park improvements. These included installation of two Beaver Pond Levelers to preserve the trail and accommodate our wildlife, and an accessible walkway from the parking lot to the highest point in the park.

Environmental Education Pavilion at West Point on the Eno Park

The Environmental Education Pavilion (EEP) is the first Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) facility dedicated to environmental education. With support from the Durham Parks Foundation (DPF), the EEP has helped DPR triple its environmental education programming! In November 2017, DPR and DPF joined together with NC State School of Design's Summer Design Studio to design and build the EEP at West Point on the Eno Park. The facility reached substantial completion by July 2018. The second phase of the project, funded by grants and donations to the DPF, included extending electricity to the Pavilion, restoring the field to a native piedmont prairie, planting demonstration gardens, adding an astronomy area, and adding a campfire circle.