Parks & Recreation Department

Parks and Recreation Facility and Park Rentals

 

Picnic Shelters
Special Facilities
Rental Procedures
Rules for the Use/Sale of Alcohol
Recreation Centers
Tennis Courts
Ball Fields
Outdoor Plaza Locations
Campsites

2009 Facility Rentals: The calendar is currently open for facility, equipment and picnic shelter rentals. The 2010 calendar for facility rentals will open on August 24, 2009.

For information on Durham picnic shelters, the Durham Armory, Spruce Pine Lodge, Forest Hills Recreation Center and the McCown-Mangum House, contact the reservation office at (919) 560-4355, ext. 27202 or reservations@durhamnc.gov.

Picnic Shelters

Durham’s parks and facilities serve as great sites for your next event, family gathering or concert. Sixty-six parks are available for public use with more planned for future development. Many Durham parks offer picnic shelters on a "first come, first served" basis. By making reservations, you are assured of having the picnic shelter of your choice. The following parks have picnic shelters available for rent:

Park Address
American Village Park 4703 American Drive
Burton Park 1100 Sima Avenue
C. R. Wood Park 417 Commonwealth Avenue   
Campus Hills Park* 2000 S. Alston Avenue
Cook Road Park 602 Cook Road
Crest Street Park 2503 Crest Street
Duke Park 106 W. Knox Street
East Durham Park 2500 E. Main Street
East End Park 1200 N. Alston Avenue
Edgemont Park 205 S. Elm Street
Elmira Avenue Park 540 Elmira Avenue
Forest Hills Park 1639 University Drive
Garrett Road Park 6815 Garrett Road
Hillside Park 1301 S. Roxboro Street
Holt School Road Park 4102 Holt School Road
Lake Michie Recreation Area    2802 Bahama Road
Lakeview Park 3500 Dearborn Drive
Long Meadow Park 917 Liberty Street
Lyon Park 1200 W. Lakewood Avenue
Morreene Road Park 1102 Morreene Road
Northgate Park
Please note that the Northgate shelters
are not available due to construction
in the park.		 300 W. Club Boulevard
Old Farm Road Park 7 Hedgerow Place
Orchard Park 1000 S. Duke Street
Oval Drive Park 2200 W. Club Boulevard
Piney Wood Park 400 E. Woodcroft Parkway
Red Maple Park 3320 Hinson Drive
River Forest Park 1000 Windermere Drive
Rockwood Park 2310 Whitley Drive
Sandy Creek Park 3510 Sandy Creek Road
Sherwood Park 2325 Cheek Road
Solite Park 4704 Fayetteville Road
Spruce Pine 2235 Bahama Road
Trinity Park 410 Watts Street
Twin Lakes Park 435 Chandler Road
Unity Village Park 200 Matilene Street
Valley Springs Park 3805 Valley Springs Road
Walltown Park
Please note that Walltown Park
is closed due to construction
of the recreation center		 1308 W. Club Boulevard
West Point On The Eno 5101 N. Roxboro Road
Whippoorwill Park 1632 Rowemont Drive
Wrightwood Park 1301 Anderson Street

*Reservations for this shelter are made at the center: (919) 560-4444.

Special Facilities
Durham Armory - 212 Foster Street, Durham, North Carolina

The Durham Armory is located on the corner of Foster and Morgan streets and is available for rentals for your community or private event, whether it is a fundraiser, concert, wedding reception, seminar or family reunion. With a capacity of 585 in the auditorium/ballroom and an additional 314 in the balcony, the Durham Armory offers a large indoor space with lots of flexibility. The amenities include a large commercial kitchen, heating and air conditioning, coatroom, snack bar, tables, chairs, 5-disc CD player and ample parking surrounding the facility. Call the reservation office at (919) 560-4355, ext. 27202 for availability and rental rates.

Rental Times
Sunday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. (minimum six hours)
Closed during City holidays

Spruce Pine Lodge
2235 Bahama Road, Bahama, North Carolina

The lodge is a 1940's vintage log building located in the Lake Michie Recreation Area. The lodge has 2,500 square feet of floor space which is divided into four meeting rooms, all served by a kitchen facility. Depending on the type of activity, the building will accommodate 120 people. All modern appliances and accessories, including heating and air conditioning, are at your disposal. Log walls and massive stone fireplaces lend a unique quality to all types of functions. Hiking trails, a large lawn and play field, and picnic shelter are also available for use, as well as Lake Michie’s camping, boating and fishing facilities nearby. The lodge is 12 miles north of downtown Durham (near Bahama) and easily accessible from Interstate 85. The building, associated lawns and picnic shelter are available to rent for weddings, large picnics, meetings, retreats, parties or other group activities. Call the reservation office at (919) 560-4355, ext. 27202 for availability and rental rates.

Rental times
Sunday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. (minimum six hours)
Closed during city holidays

Forest Hills Neighborhood Clubhouse
1639 University Dr., Durham, NC

This historic building is located in the heart of the Forest Hills neighborhood and offers a large meeting room, a spacious kitchen, restrooms, heat, air conditioning, and a large lawn. The clubhouse will accommodate 80 people and is perfect for a business meeting, team building retreats, parties, anniversaries, church functions, and family reunions. Call the reservation office at (919) 560-4355, ext. 27202 for availability and rental rates.

Rental times
Sunday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. (minimum 3 hour rental)
Closed during city holidays

McCown-Mangum House
5101 N. Roxboro Rd., Durham, NC

This restored 1850’s farmhouse is a quaint facility that features rooms sheathed in original heart pine boards, a brick patio, a spacious kitchen, restrooms, heat, air conditioning, porches and gardens. The patio seats forty and the house will accommodate sixty people (twenty per room maximum). Rent this facility for your next small gatherings such as weddings, receptions and meetings. Call the reservation office at (919) 560-4355, ext. 27202 for availability and rental rates.

Rental times
Sunday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Closed during city holidays

Rental Procedures

Forest Hills Neighborhood Center, the Durham Armory, Spruce Pine Lodge and the McCown-Mangum House.

  1. A permit must be secured from the City of Durham Parks and Recreation Department (DPR).
  2. When a request is made for a facility rental, a "hold" will be placed on the facility for 10 business days of the proposed date of use.
  3. A completed event application and the refundable deposit must be received within the 10 business day "hold". If the deposit fee and the completed event application are not received by the specified deadline, the requested date will be reopened for others to reserve without notice to the applicant.
  4. All rental fees are due by the date stated on the event application. If the rental fees are not received by the date stated on the event application, the reservation will be canceled and the deposit forfeited. All rental fees will be due a minimum of 30 calendar days prior to the event.
  5. DPR reserves the right to deny any request made less than 30 calendar days prior to the requested reservation date. Those approved will be required to pay all fees including the deposit within two business days in cash, credit card or money order.
  6. The deposit and rental fee will not be refunded for cancellations less than 30 calendar days prior to the proposed date of use. Exceptions include when the cancellation is a result of an act of nature or the use is cancelled by DPR due to unforeseen circumstances.
  7. Changes may be made to the event application up to 30 calendar days prior to the date reserved; after that time the information supplied on the event application will be considered final and no alterations may be made.
  8. Any time needed for use of a facility, including set-up and dismantle, must be requested on the event application. Those parties needing previous day set-up or post day dismantle times will be required to reserve the facility and pay all rental fees.
  9. The event may be subject to security requirements.
  10. The event may be subject to insurance requirements.

Rules for the Use/Sale of Alcohol

Spirituous liquor is not permitted at the McCown-Mangum House. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any picnic shelter, campsite or neighborhood or recreation center. The following rules apply if you intend to provide alcoholic beverages at an event at the Durham Armory, Spruce Pine Lodge or the McCown-Mangum House.

  1. "Alcoholic Beverage" is defined as champagne, beer, wine (fortified and unfortified) or spirituous liquor.
  2. Renters must complete a DPR alcohol application and pay all related fees to serve alcoholic beverages. The DPR alcohol application fee is $50.
  3. An Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) "Limited Special Occasion" permit must be obtained in order to serve fortified wine and spirituous liquor. The permit may be secured from the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (NCABCC) www.ncabc.com/permits. The permit fee is $50 and must be paid to the NCABCC.
  4. An Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) "Special One-Time Permit for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages" must be obtained in order to sell alcoholic beverages. The permit may be secured from the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission( www.ncabc.com/permits). A special event permit must be authorized by DPR for any event where alcohol will be sold.
  5. Renters are required by the City to request and pay for security provided by the City of Durham Police Department during the event. Security requirements will be determined based on the location, size and type of event.
  6. Renters must provide a certificate of liability insurance to Durham Parks and Recreation reservations office no later than 15 business days prior to the event. (This insurance should show general liability insurance with an alcohol/liquor rider for at least $1,000,000.00, also naming the City of Durham as an additional insured.) If this is not turned in on time alcohol will not be able to be served at the event.
  7. Alcohol may not be served at events hosted for persons under the age of 21. It is unlawful to serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21.
  8. When alcoholic beverages are being served attendees must be invited by the renter or a special event permit must be authorized by DPR.

Recreation Centers

Are you planning a party and need a facility to host your event? Gymnasiums, meeting rooms and kitchen space in our recreation centers are available to the public to rent. Keep us in mind when planning a holiday party, meeting, anniversary party, dance, church function, reunion or wedding reception. To reserve one of the following recreation centers, contact the center directly.

Edison Johnson Recreation Center: (919) 560-4270
I.R. Holmes, Sr. Recreation Center at Campus Hills: (919) 560-4444
Community Family Life and Recreation Center at Lyon Park: (919) 560-4288
Weaver Street Recreation Center: (919) 560-4294
W.D. Hill Recreation Center: (919) 560-4292

Tennis Courts

Due to damage from a recent storm, Rock Quarry tennis courts 1, 6 and 7 are currently closed. The nets will be removed until the courts can be repaired. The closest available substitute courts are at Northgate Park (two courts) and Whippoorwill Park (eight courts). Thank you for your patience.

Tennis courts can be rented for group play during certain times of the day. To reserve a tennis court, call the athletics unit at (919) 560-4355.

Ball Fields

Enjoy America’s favorite pastime! To reserve a ball field, call (919) 560-4355.

Outdoor Plaza Locations

With the completion of the downtown streetscape, Durham Parks and Recreation invites the community to enjoy the four outdoor plazas (Durham Central Park, CCB Plaza, Civic Center Plaza & Center Parking Garage) nestled in the heart of downtown Durham. The outdoor plazas offer the perfect environment for meetings, receptions, banquets, parties, trade shows, concerts, expos and more! These plazas are centrally located, to provide easy access to the surrounding communities for people to enjoy after work socials or weekend events. Please consider Parks and Recreation for your next outdoor event.

  • Central Park - 501 Foster Street, beside the Durham Farmer’s Market pavilion
  • CCB Plaza - Corcoran and Parrish Streets in downtown Durham – home of MAJOR, the big bronze bull.
  • Civic Center Plaza – located in front of the Marriott Hotel and across from the Carolina Theater
  • Durham Center Parking Garage – 300 W. Morgan Street (rooftop of the Center Parking Garage) (Please note: The Durham Center Parking Garage will be closed through the end of March 2010 for construction.

For reservations and rental prices, call (919) 560-4355, ext. 27202.

Campsite Information

Parks and Recreation offers a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation, including a year round camping area. All reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. To reserve a campsite or obtain a permit, call 919-560-4355, ext. 27202.

Lake Michie Recreation Area: Overlooking Lake Michie, this recreation area offers camping, boating (paved boat launch), fishing and trail hiking. The area has seven campsites opened year round. Each site has a tent pad, grill and picnic table. No electrical hookups are available & campers should bring water and other necessities. Vehicular access to the campgrounds is limited. Directions: Take Roxboro Road North (Rte 501); go approximately 12 miles; turn right onto Bahama Road; after 2.5 miles, take a left at the wooden sign that reads "Spruce Pine Lodge".

*Prior to use of the camping facility, a permit must be obtained from the Parks & Recreation Department*