An amphitheater? Garden? Tell Durham what should happen to the Durham Athletic Park
Asking young people what they want to see happen to old buildings is just one way the city of Durham tries to prioritize their voices.
Now, the city’s youth are being asked about the future of the historic Durham Athletic Park. The city wants to transform the nearly 100-year-old ballpark into a space that meets the community’s needs.
Being intentional about including young people in the discussion is important, said Lara Khalil, the director of Durham’s Office on Youth.
“This project is a perfect opportunity for young people to share what they’d like to see in the future of this downtown space, for them and their families,” Khalil said. “We want young people to feel like they belong here, and feel safe and supported by their community.”
The Durham Athletic Park Feasibility Study is open for feedback. The city is paying Durham-based architecture firm Perkins & Will $179,000 to conduct the study. The group worked on the city’s transportation station.
The “DAP” was home to the Durham Bulls baseball team from 1926 to 1994 before the Durham Bulls Athletic Park opened in 1995. It also hosted N.C. Central University baseball games. But while downtown Durham has been transformed, the athletic park sits mostly unused except for special events or rentals.
A space for everybody
Nori McDuffie-Williams, 23, was born and raised in Durham and remembers getting his hair cut near “Major,” the bronze bull sculpture downtown. He wants to see the DAP become a place that benefits everyone by hosting multiple activities.
“Not just sports teams but people might want to do gardening,” McDuffie-Williams said. “People might want to come out and picnic; people might want to have some form of celebration there. Whatever brings people the most joy.”
Rentals for the park are requested through the Durham Bulls, said Marcus Manning, the executive director of the Durham Sports Commission. Baseball games, concerts and other events take place there throughout the year.
“That’s what makes it iconic in a lot of ways,” Manning said. “The park is a tremendous community asset, a multi-purpose asset that can host a lot of activities. … We’re excited to hear what the community has to say.”
On the city’s social media, users have been commenting about what they want and do not want to see. Some say an amphitheater, and others say not another apartment development. One user on an Instagram post said they’d like to see the old park become a theme park and a historic museum.
There are no plans to announce yet, said Aleicia Bass, the city’s Real Estate Division manager.
“Community feedback is essential to this process, and we want to hear from as many voices as possible,” Bass said. “The study will help identify potential future uses that reflect community priorities, and all input will be carefully considered.”
How to complete the study
The athletic park study is scheduled to close on Feb. 28, after opening in January.
Two virtual meetings are scheduled specifically for young people between the ages of 13 and 24 to offer their thoughts about the park. To sign up for the virtual sessions, residents must register online at durhamnc.gov.
Feb. 22, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 27, 6 to 7 p.m.
The survey is in the form of a Google document and can also be accessed through the city’s website.
This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 5:28 PM.