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W.D. Hill Recreation Center
Features
- Fitness Center
- Futsal Court
- Gymnasium
- Parking Lot
- Playground
The W.D. Hill Recreation Center is located at the intersection of Fayetteville Street and Massey Street, surrounded by local landmarks, such as the Hayti Heritage Center, North Carolina Central University, and the Lincoln Community Health Center.
The fitness center at W.D. Hill offers a variety of equipment for your cardio, core and strength workout needs.
W.D. Hill offers programs for all ages all year round. Pick up a copy of the Play More Guide at any facility, the administration office or view it online for current programs.
W.D. Hill Recreation Center has a variety of rooms available to rent for your next meeting, birthday party, baby shower, etc. Visit the Photo Gallery for a look inside.
For availability, complete a Recreation Center Rental Request Form.
The W.D. Hill Recreation Center welcomes outside community organizations and non-profit agencies to partner with DPR in offering shared vision programming. For additional information, please contact the recreation center.
The recreation center is named after William Daniel Hill (1890-1945), better known by his initials "W.D." Hill was an executive of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. and the prime mover in that firm's projects to serve Durham's African American youth. Working with John H. Wheeler of Mechanics and Farmers Bank, Hill lobbied for and won a USO Club for black GIs in Durham. After the war (WWII), the club was reorganized in Hill's memory as the W.D. Hill Community Center. (Museum of Durham History website)
On Thursday, August 15, 2019, a North Carolina Historical Marker was permanently added outside of the W.D. Hill Recreation Center to recognize the Algonquin Tennis Club. During the 1930s through the 1960s tennis greats Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, Johns Lucas, Bonnie Logan, Joe Williams, and Irwin Holmes played at the tennis club. The Algonquin Tennis Club gave African-American residents a place to gather to not only play tennis, but as a space for dances, receptions, card games, dinners, and more.
Today, W.D. Hill is a short bike ride from downtown, and connects to Hillside Park which boasts a Futsal court, playground, basketball courts, baseball fields, picnic tables, picnic shelter, sprayground and more.
W.D. Hill Fitness Center
The fitness center at W.D. Hill offers a variety of equipment for your cardio, core and strength workout needs.
- Cardio equipment: treadmills, ‘stationary’ mountain bikes and jump ropes
- Core equipment: stability balls, medicine balls, kettlebells and a designated area for floor exercises
- Strength equipment: free weights (with smith cage and bench), dumbbells and resistance bands
| Fitness Center Hours of Operation | |
| Monday - Friday | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Tuesday / Friday | 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. |
Programming
W.D. Hill offers programs for all ages all year round. Pick up a copy of the Play More Guide at any facility, the administration office or view it online for current programs.
Rentals
W.D. Hill Recreation Center has a variety of rooms available to rent for your next meeting, birthday party, baby shower, etc. Visit the Photo Gallery for a look inside.
For availability, complete a Recreation Center Rental Request Form.
| Room | Capacity | Details |
| Gymnasium | 400 | Includes use of bleachers & scoreboard |
| Multipurpose Room | 85 | Includes use of kitchen & room divider |
| Dance Studio | 25 | Equipped with ballet barres, mirrors & sound system |
| Multi-use Outdoor Futsal Court | 100 | Includes use of soccer goals, roller skates/blades, picnic shelter & portable picnic benches |
| Rental Fees |
|
| Refundable Deposit | CR: $200 | NCR: $200 (Required for all rentals) |
| Application Fee | CR: $15 | NCR: $15 (Non Refundable) |
| Food Fee | CR: $25 | NCR: $25 (Assessed when food/beverages are served) |
| Gymnasium | CR: $60 | NCR: $75/hour |
| Multipurpose Room | CR: $30 | NCR: $75/hour |
| Dance Studio | CR: $30 | NCR: $45/hour |
| Multi-use Outdoor Futsal Court | CR: $5 NCR: $5/hour (1-25 people) NCR: $15/hour (26-125 people) NCR: $25/hour (126+ people) |
| Rentals outside of Non-operational hours | CR: Add $15/hour | NCR: Add $15/hour |
| Admission Fees or Ticket Sales | CR: $200 | NCR: $200 |
| Custodial Fee/Table and Chair set up | $25 (1-50 people) $50 (51-100 people) $75 (101-150 people) $100 (151-200 people) $125 (201-250 people) $150 (251-300 people) $175 (301-350 people) |
Community Partnerships
The W.D. Hill Recreation Center welcomes outside community organizations and non-profit agencies to partner with DPR in offering shared vision programming. For additional information, please contact the recreation center.
History
The recreation center is named after William Daniel Hill (1890-1945), better known by his initials "W.D." Hill was an executive of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. and the prime mover in that firm's projects to serve Durham's African American youth. Working with John H. Wheeler of Mechanics and Farmers Bank, Hill lobbied for and won a USO Club for black GIs in Durham. After the war (WWII), the club was reorganized in Hill's memory as the W.D. Hill Community Center. (Museum of Durham History website)
On Thursday, August 15, 2019, a North Carolina Historical Marker was permanently added outside of the W.D. Hill Recreation Center to recognize the Algonquin Tennis Club. During the 1930s through the 1960s tennis greats Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, Johns Lucas, Bonnie Logan, Joe Williams, and Irwin Holmes played at the tennis club. The Algonquin Tennis Club gave African-American residents a place to gather to not only play tennis, but as a space for dances, receptions, card games, dinners, and more.
Today, W.D. Hill is a short bike ride from downtown, and connects to Hillside Park which boasts a Futsal court, playground, basketball courts, baseball fields, picnic tables, picnic shelter, sprayground and more.