Durham City Parks Offer Summer Programs That Need More Workers

The Durham Parks and Recreation Department has boosted marketing efforts, offers competitive hourly rates, and hosted a job fair, but continues to struggle with finding enough seasonal staff for city camps and pools.

On Thursday, parks department officials are set to make a presentation to City Council about Durham’s summer camp programs, summer teen camps and programs, and pools.

“Through participant, parent, and community feedback and evaluations, staff annually review programming and make improvements so we can continue to provide the highest-quality, most affordable, fun and enriching experience possible,” wrote Wade Walcutt, DPR director, in a memo to City Manager Wanda Page.

Feedback led staff to provide new camp options for scheduling and specialty programming. Outdoor pools have extended operating hours. For the first time since 2017, outdoor pools are scheduled to be open seven days a week, 1 to 7 p.m. The city’s three spraygrounds also will be available every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

School Age Care

The city has capacity for 1,261 participants in summer camps held at the follow locations:

• Edison Johnson.
• Campus Hills.
• W.I. Patterson.
• Walltown.
• W.D. Hill.

A sliding-scale fee approach has been approved for 126 families.

Highlights include:

• Half-day camp structure.
• Weekly field trips.
• Specialty camps.
• Traditional camps.
• Specialized contractors and instructors.

Summer Teen Connect

This program at Holton Career and Resource Center has capacity for 180 participants from June 17-Aug. 16, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $87.75 per week, with a sliding fee scale available). It includes:

• Arts and crafts.
• Field trips.
• Swimming.
• Life readiness skills.
• Games.
• Teen Talks.
• Volunteer opportunities.

My Durham Summer Program

As many as 450 participants could be involved in this program at the Durham Teen Center and Weaver Street Recreation Center, June 17-Aug. 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s free to attend and includes field trips and interactive programs.

DPR-PAL Summer Basketball League

This sports league has capacity for 72 participants ages 13 to 16, with practices starting in June and games in July at Walltown Park Recreation Center and W.D. Hill Recreation Center. The program is free.

Got questions about city parks and recreation programming?

Danielle Haynes
Recreation Services Manager
School Age Care Programs
Danielle.Haynes@durhamnc.gov
919.560.4296 ext. 27426
Jeff Forde
Recreation Services Manager
Teen Programs
Jeffrey.Forde@durhamnc.gov
919.354.2730, ext. 11105

DeAnne Brown, CPO
Recreation Services Manager
Aquatics
DeAnne.Brown@durhamnc.gov
919.560.4444, ext. 27260

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