Facilities

Improvements are coming to Lyon Park!

Click here for informational flyer.

You’ll see work starting in November at the existing picnic shelter area and basketball court for basketball court improvements, plus a brand new picnic shelter and outdoor fitness area. Work will proceed through completion in Spring 2024.

All ADA and park access will remain open during the renovation and construction of the picnic shelter.

Lyon Park was recently assessed for soil lead. One area in Lyon Park (marked with signs) was identified as having elevated  soil lead levels. This area of concern is not near or included in the construction project area for Lyon Park Improvements.

Visit www.dprplaymore.org/516 for more information on this study.

Construction Schedule
November 13-17	Installation of construction fencing and signage around shelter and basketball court (project area).
November 20-22	Tagging of utilities and underground obstacles. Installation of erosion control measures.
November 27-December 1	Demolition of existing picnic shelter. Staking of layout for basketball court and fitness area.
December 4-December 8	Continued demolition. Basketball court closed. Tree removal and cleaning in project area.
December 11-December 15	Grading at picnic shelter. Demolition at basketball court.

Lyon Park

Lyon Park sits on 12.23 acres in West Central Durham.

Picnic Shelter

Visit the picnic shelter rentals page for complete details on renting the shelter at Lyon Park.

Athletic Rentals

Visit the athletic rentals page for complete details on renting a field or court at Lyon Park.

Park History

The original Lyon Park School (or Lyon’s Park as it was first named) was one of the Rosenwald Schools in Durham. This four-teacher school was built for the 1922-23 school year. It was constructed on two acres of land and cost $5,500.

The park itself was built on land that was once a City dump and incinerator at the outer edge of the City of Durham and later became a public school. The park was opened in 1964; it included a ball field at which local residents including Thomas Womble, Willie Haskins, and Frank Jacobs coached youth and junior league teams named the “Lyon Park Elites.” The site was also home to a slow-pitch softball teamed named the “Bombers.”

There have been Lyons in Durham’s history since Ed Lyon who is noted as a friend of Dr. Bartlett Durham. However, the neighborhood and school probably got their names from George Leonidas Lyon, a grandson of Washington Duke who built his home in the Morehead Hill neighborhood and built a community ball field on land across from the Maplewood Cemetery.

Park Plan
The overall purpose of this Lyon Park Plan is the establishment of a guide to direct the operations of the Department of Parks and Recreation in development decisions for Lyon Park. The plan is aligned with the City and the Department Strategic Plans as well as with the City and the Department mission and vision. Visit the following link to read the Lyon Park Draft Plan.

Lyon Park Renovations

Lyon Park is a multi-use community park in West Central Durham situated between West End, Morehead Hill, Forest Hills, and Lakewood Park neighborhoods. The Lyon Park Plan created in 2018 identified a variety of opportunities to add new features and increase positive activity throughout the park. Community engagement opportunities will begin Summer 2022 and construction is expected to be completed in Fall 2023. For more information, visit the General Services - Lyon Park Renovations page.