A Century of Fun: Celebrating Durham Parks and Recreation's 100th Anniversary
For almost one hundred years, Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) has built a legacy full of laughter, vitality, and community, offering the Durham community abundant avenues to "Play More". Our profound connection to wellness, the great outdoors, and lifelong learning has woven a beautiful fabric of happiness that has stretched across many generations. As we stand on the cusp of a historic milestone, the celebration of DPR’s 100th anniversary will be celebrated throughout the entirety of the 2024 calendar year.
Many of the department’s core pillars of service, established 100 years ago, remain strongly rooted today. For example, we continue to build great parks and provide innovative programs that enhance the lives of our residents,” said Director Wade Walcutt. “We have grown with our community over these 100 years and have evolved to place a stronger focus on engagement, enhancing the overall wellbeing of our community, and intentionally creating inclusive and equitable experiences and opportunities for Durham,” he added.
Public recreation was started in Durham in April of 1924 by a City Council Resolution which stated, "It has been recognized by the Council that playgrounds are essential to proper growth and citizenship." In accordance with this observation the Council, in July 1924, appropriated money for summer playgrounds. A year later, on July 1, 1925, the Council further demonstrated its commitment by providing funds to develop a Recreation Department, complete with a full-time director. The first Recreation Department had an annual operating budget of $5,400 and a total of 10 staff members other than the director, today Durham Parks & Recreation is home to more than 120 full time staff and 180 part-time staff, and our operating budget in 2022 was 16.2 million.
DPR 100, will be an immersive celebration of our past, present, and the exhilarating future that awaits. Through an array of events, activities, community engagement, park projects, and planning, DPR 100 will tell Durham Parks and Recreation's origin story, demonstrate our growth and evolution, and set the stage for the future to connect the Durham Community to the happiness we provide and opportunities to Play More!
“This is just the beginning for Durham. There’s so many good things happening now and so much potential for the future of our City,” Walcutt says. “Our Centennial Celebration is a rare opportunity to celebrate and honor our past. However, this is the beginning and not the end. Right now, we’re strategizing for the next 10-15 years through a new comprehensive park system to craft superior parks, recreation programs, and services for our residents.' Our centennial theme of “Keeping it 100” means just that… we’ll continue to give 100% commitment to our residents while focusing on our 10 fundamental pillars: Community Connections, Inclusivity & Equity, Youth Opportunities, Environment & Sustainability, Health & Wellbeing, Partnerships, Infrastructure & Facility Development, Engagement, Parkenomics, and Building Culture."
We have so much to be proud of, whether it's our long-standing special events that serve more than 10,000 participants each year, our school-age care program that offers a mix of recreation, arts, learning, and cultural activities for youth ages 5-12 throughout the school year and in the summer, our nationally recognized Mature Adults program, or our mobile recreation program, Fun Caravan, which has been serving the Durham community for more than 50 years.
As we embark on a remarkable journey towards celebrating a century of fun and community, we reflect on our rich history and look forward to a promising future. From our humble beginnings in 1924 with a modest budget and staff to our current thriving presence with an extensive team and budget, DPR has continuously evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the Durham community.
DPR 100 is not just a celebration of our past achievements but a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering happiness, health, and inclusivity in the lives of our residents. As we commemorate this milestone, we invite everyone to join us in this immersive celebration, where we will explore our origins, showcase our growth, and chart a path towards an even brighter future. “Our entire team is grateful to be part of this legacy and this moment. We recognize the privilege we have as servant leaders and our responsibilities as stewards of the public’s most cherished resources,” said Walcutt.
Throughout 2024, our focus on history, play, health, nature, and social equity will serve as guiding principles, reminding us of the values that have shaped Durham Parks and Recreation for a century. We invite you to be a part of DPR 100, as we continue to provide opportunities for the Durham community to "Play More" and create cherished memories that will last for generations to come. Here's to a century of fun, and to many more years of enriching the lives of our community members.