Blog

DCP Rocks Bingo!

Events

Durham Central Park rocks and we’ve got your second themed park bingo/scavenger hunt ready! At your leisure, and following physical distancing and face mask mandates, come to DCP with this “rock” and why “DCP rocks” bingo card. Post your pictures of what you or the young people in your life discover.

Durham Central Park is a 5-acre city owned park located in the heart of Downtown Durham. The park is managed, developed and programmed by Durham Central Park, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit organization. Our Mission: Providing Space for Community.

Durham Central Park is a place filled with natural beauty and man-made wonders. Yet, in a way, it is also a blank canvas—an empty stage ready to be the setting for your story.

Our mission is providing space for community, which means a number of things including:

–Continuing to maintain and improve an already amazing urban park;
–Working hard to ensure that the park is accessible to everyone;
–Hosting enjoyable, free events to enliven the park and enrich the community;
–Offering an affordable and attractive venue in the heart of downtown; and Safeguarding a place for people to gather in celebration or rally around a shared belief, meet up with friends or just be alone for a moment, appreciate public art or simply play in nature—a place for Durham to be Durham.

If you haven’t had a chance to play the first in our series, Pollinator Bingo (in honor of Pollinator Week last month, and Durham’s status as a Bee City, you can access the bingo card here. 

PLAYlist Concert Series Announcement

News

PLAYlist Concert Series Announcement: we were excited to share this year’s PLAYlist Concert Series lineup with you but, after much consideration and consultation with the City of Durham, NC Government, we have decided to cancel our 2020 PLAYlist Concert Series (June-Sept) in order to protect public health amid the #COVID-19 pandemic. We will miss gathering and the camaraderie of these concerts but feel that the risk and uncertainty is too great at this time. Photo credit Ryan Moeller Photography, 2018. #DurhamNC

#25DaysofGiving to Raise $10,000 to Support DCP’s Operating Funds

News

Giving Tuesday, May 5th, we kicked off #25DaysofGiving to raise $10,000 to support DCP’s operating funds. Our day four running total in #25DaysofGiving is $2141, including five new sustainers! Over the next 21 days, we will share our favorite memories, features and information about the work that we are doing to improve the park and provide space for community during the global pandemic. Please make a donation or become a sustainer to help us continue to serve the Durham community. 

As you may know, the park is operated, programmed and preserved by DCP, Inc. a 501(c)3 nonprofit. We serve as a “Friends of the Park” organization for Durham Central Park and keep the park a beautiful place for you to enjoy. Changes to our pavilion rentals and regularly scheduled programming this spring have caused financial challenges for our small non-profit.

Please make a donation so that we can continue our vital work towards positively impacting the well-being of our community. https://durhamcentralpark.org/donate/

Durham Farmers’ Market Re-Opens on May 2

News
Farmers Stands Next to Durham Farmers Market signAfter closing for the month of April due to COVID-19, the Durham Farmers’ Market has been given permission by the Durham County Health Department to re-open on May 2 from 8am-Noon.
To ensure the safety of vendors and customers, the Durham Farmers’ Market has new safety protocols in place.
      • Everyone is required to wear a face mask
      • There are designated entry and exit points
      • Pre-order and pre-pay are strongly encouraged
      • Maintain a 6′ distance between customers and vendors

The whole code of conduct can be found here.

You might have also noticed some fencing was put up at the park today… Farmer Jack from Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm (pictured here), along with Durham Farmers’Market staff and DCP board members, have been working very hard today to make sure that the re-opening of the market is safe and successful. One of Durham County Health Department’s requirements for safe operation of farmers markets at this time is that the perimeter needs to be fenced off to ensure that people are following social distancing and traffic flow. The market will be open from 8am-noon on Saturdays and it will operate differently than usual to ensure vendor and customer safety. Please follow their guidelines and remember that face masks are required.

The fencing will stay up for as long as the health department requires. Even though the fencing is up at this time, Durham Central Park remains open for the community to enjoy, safely, of course.

Thank you for your understanding and a big thank you to Durham Farmers Market staff for safely providing fresh, local food to the community.

Mount Merrill Closed Due to Covid-19

News

Effective March 23, all playgrounds in the Durham Parks and Rec system, including Durham Central Park’s Mount Merrill, are closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Durham’s parks, trails, and greenways, however, remain open.

Officials in the City of Durham are recommending that those who use Durham’s parks and trails, “model social distancing by maintaining a safe distance (at least 6 feet) between you and other users. Group activities, i.e. basketball games, etc. are strongly discouraged.”

At this time, all city-owned facilities are closed as well. This includes the Pavilion at Durham Central Park and all scheduled events, including the Durham Farmers’ Market.

For more information about Durham’s response to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, please visit their website: https://durhamnc.gov/4013/City-of-Durham-COVID-19-Coronavirus-Upda

 

 

 

Durham Farmers’ Market Vendors Offering Pickup and Delivery

News
Durham Farmers Market Sign

While the Durham Farmers’ Market is temporarily closed to help stop the spread of Covid-19, many of their vendors will be offering delivery and pickup options. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, but it is the information that we have as of March 20, 2020.

For more or updated information, please visit durhamfarmersmarket.com or email the Durham Farmers’ Market Manager at [email protected]

Please note, the Durham Farmers’ Market staff are working on ways to get triple SNAP bucks to SNAP and WIC customers. Please contact Durham Farmers’ Market with more info about the program.

Bonlee Grown Farm

Selling Vegetables, Canned Goods, Eggs and Plants at Carrboro Farmers Market. Call 919-548-0977 for special orders

Caballo Rojo Coffee

Coffee Delivery available by emailing Gabriela, [email protected]

Chapel Hill Creamery

On Farm Pickup and selling at Carrboro Farmers’ Market. Email for ordering and payment, orders@chapelhillcreamery.com

Fickle Creek Farm

Offering on-farm pick up and delivery of their meats, eggs and vegetables. Fickle Creek Farm Store

Four Leaf Farm

Teaming up with Lil Farm for vegetable delivery. Email [email protected] for more info.

Harland’s Creek Farm

Online ordering for Saturday pick up at Geer Street Garden. Harland’s Creek Farm Store

Honeygirl Meadery

Offering dockside pickup at their tasting room at 105 Hood Street, Suite 6. More info on Honeygirl’s Facebook Page

Imagine That Gluten Free

Supplying Durham Co-op and Weaver Street Markets with Gluten Free Baked Goods

Lil Farm

Offering Temporary Joint Vegetable CSA with Four Leaf Farm with Delivery. Email [email protected] for to order

Maple Spring Gardens

Email Ken and Sunshine about vegetable delivery options maplespringgardens.com/contact-us

Melina’s Fresh Pasta

Melina’s Pasts Shop on Chapel Hill Road is open. To order, fill out their order form.

Meadow Lane Farm

Offering pickup at Geer Street Garden Parking Lot, 644 Foster St., Saturday 9:30-Noon. To order meats, vegetables and eggs Call/Text Martha at 919-495-1305 by Friday at 5pm.

Moondance Soaps

Order soaps and body products through their website. Offering free shipping to DFM customers with code GO-DFM

Roberson Creek Farm

Call for eggs

Soul Cocina

Offering Delivery in Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro. Order through website: https://soul-cocina.square.site/

Spicy Hermit

Offering Saturday delivery of kim chi. Order through website: https://spicyhermit.square.site/

Stoney Mountain Farm

Offering Farm pickups and delivery within 50 miles of their farm. Order on their website: Stoney Mountain Farm Store

Strong Arm Baking

Offering Porch Drops of their Baked Goods. Order on their website: Strong Arm Baking Store

Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm

Selling at Carrboro Farmers Market and offering limited Farm Pickups. To place an order, call 336-583-6666

Terra Clotha

Special Orders for Pickup. Email Mike: [email protected]

Wild Scallions Farm

On Farm Pickup on Saturdays of vegetables and flowers. To place an order, email [email protected]

Durham Central Park Update Regarding COVID-19

News
Dear Friends,

We have been working closely with city officials to determine the best plans for keeping our community safe at Durham Central Park during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we are following the city and state guidance and all of the scheduled events at Durham Central Park are cancelled through April 10th, including the March 22 Food Truck Rodeo and the Durham Farmers Market. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, we will continue to monitor and follow the leadership of city and state government and keep you posted of any changes.

As of now, Durham Central Park and the parks in the Durham Parks and Rec system are open. You are welcome to take walks, enjoy the sunshine, and smell the flowers. It is a beautiful time of year and in the midst of this uncertainty, enjoying nature in a socially distant and responsible way can help.

If you are a patron of the Durham Farmers’ Market and want to get food from local farmers, sign up for their newsletter. The Durham Farmers’ Market Manager is working with their vendors on ways to connect people with local farmers and vendors for food deliveries at this time. DFM will be sending out information through their newsletter regularly.

We are still working on DCP’s summer event schedule and planning on moving forward with our summertime events. Our next Food Truck Rodeo is scheduled for June 21. Our PLAYlist Concert Series is set to start on June 12 and run every other Friday through September 18. Not to mention, our Children’s Fourth of July parade is still in the works! We’ll share more details about all of these events soon and if anything changes, we’ll let you know.

These next few weeks and months will be a hardship for everyone. Remember to look after your community as you can – your family, friends, neighbors, local businesses and the non-profits that help to make the Durham community vibrant, healthy, connected and safe. We look forward to enjoying the park together very soon.

Warmly,
Erin Kauffman
Durham Central Park Executive Director
ENJOY THESE GARDEN VIEWS AT THE PARK
Left to right (starting in the top left corner): peach blossoms, ipheion, daffodils with a bit of grape hyacinth and hellebore in our Grace Garden.
Need a Breath of Fresh Air? You Can Visit Durham Central Park.
Help Sustain Durham Central Park 

Durham Central Park is a 5-acre park that is managed, developed and programmed by Durham Central Park, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization. Our mission is providing space for community. We work hard to provide the community a beautiful, safe, vibrant and welcoming park in downtown Durham. To do all of this, we rely on generous donations from people like you. You can help support and sustain this vital community space through this uncertain time.

Become a friend of the park today. You can support Durham Central Park by:
Click Here To Donate Online
Twitter
Facebook
Website
Instagram
Share Share
Tweet Tweet
Forward Forward
Share Share

Spring Break IMPACT Camp Registration Now Open (9th-12th graders)

News

IMPACT Camps are powered by students making an IMPACT in our communities, including Durham Central Park!

Spring Break Impact Camp registration is now open. The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center invites 9th-12th graders to
Register
IMPACT Camps provide area high school-aged youth with an affordable, local week-long community service/urban mission experience. They offer IMPACT camps in the Summer and during Spring Break.

Students learn together about social issues in our community and work with local agencies that are making a difference.

Students participating in the program will spend Monday through Friday on a supervised team working on a variety of service projects. They will hear from community leaders and engage in reflection activities. Participants will also receive leadership and team-building training, and learn about housing, hunger, poverty, caring for the environment, and other issues facing the local community.
 
 REGISTER FOR SPRING BREAK

Tuition

– SPRING BREAK  $300 per week

-SUMMER  $350 per week

– Need-based scholarships and payment plans are available. We try to accommodate as many students as possible. Please complete the scholarship form below. Contact us to discuss payment plans.

 

Camp Date and Times

SPRING BREAK: April 13-17, 2020 (Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm)

SUMMER: 2020 DATES TO BE SET
(There are four separate weeks for the Summer IMPACT Camp )
The camp runs Monday – Friday

Durham Central Park’s 2020 Calendar of Events

Events, News

Durham Central Park is a 5-acre city-owned park located in the heart of Downtown Durham. The park is managed, developed and programmed by Durham Central Park, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit organization. This is a preview of our 2020 Calendar of Events. ALL free and open to the public.

Mission

Providing Space for Community.

Durham Central Park is a place filled with natural beauty and man-made wonders. Yet, in a way, it is also a blank canvas—an empty stage ready to be the setting for your story.

Our mission is providing space for community, which means a number of things including:

  • Continuing to maintain and improve an already amazing urban park;
  • Working hard to ensure that the park is accessible to everyone;
  • Hosting enjoyable, free events to enliven the park and enrich the community;
  • Offering an affordable and attractive venue in the heart of downtown; and
  • Safeguarding a place for people to gather in celebration or rally around a shared belief, meet up with friends or just be alone for a moment, appreciate public art or simply play in nature—a place for Durham to be Durham.

Vision

A vibrant, urban park where everyone feels welcome.

Location

Durham Central Park is located in the 500 block of Foster Street (both sides of the street) between Corporation and Hunt Streets.
To find it with GPS, use 501 Foster Street, Durham NC 27701.

Hours

Durham Central Park is open every day from dawn to dusk. All visitors and members of the community are welcome to visit and enjoy our gardens, facilities and the great outdoors in the heart of our lovely city.

Contact

Phone: 919-794-8194
Mail: PO Box 1526, Durham NC 27702
Email: [email protected]

EIN: 58-2222977
Charitable Solicitation License: SL002658