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Sunrise 7:25 a.m. | Sunset 7:32 p.m.

🏞️ Park it here

Your guide to Winston-Salem’s public parks

Green grass with payground, splash pad on concrete, a picnic shelter in the distance and a brick building with a black fence on the right.

Reynolds Park is located at 2450 Reynolds Park Rd. | Photo by City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks

Swinging, swimming, skating — do all that and much more at Winston-Salem public parks. Here’s what you need to know about using the facilities + how they offer ways for you to stay active.

By the numbers

The Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department manages recreation centers, parks, pools, and other spaces within city limits. The Strategic Plan guides how parks are developed and maintained. Current facilities include:

79 parks
26 miles of greenway
17 recreation centers
2 golf courses
1 skate park

Salem Lake, Historic Bethabara Park, and the Quarry at Grant Park are also city-owned and operated. Recreation and Parks sponsors Cricket’s Nest Craft Shop and a board of older adults who are members run the crafting boutique. Gateway Nature Preserve has a public-private partnership with the department.

Glassy lake surrounded by trees. — Salem Lake (815 Salem Lake Rd.) offers boating, fishing, rental space, and a seven-mile walking trail.
|
“Salem Lake” by Elena Gamez (submitted for our 2023 Picture of the Year contest)

Get active

With the exception of eight pools and 10 splashpads, all parks are open year-round. The park locator tool is a good place to start to find what’s close to where you live, and what amenities are offered where.

To use permanent amenities like walking trails and tennis courts, in most cases you can just show up. Registration is required and there are costs for camps, adult athletic leagues, fishing and boating, golf, and some other programs.

Rental fees are charged for meeting rooms, kitchens, gyms, and ballrooms for special events — fees start at $20 and vary based on the size of the event and how how long it is reserved.

There are also programs + special events year-round, geared toward different age groups. The “We Play” logo stands for “we provide leisure all year” — the department’s motto to host something for everyone.

Staff highlights programming monthly + keeps a calendar of special events. If weather or other problems force an event to be canceled, you’ll learn about it first on Facebook and Instagram.

Events

Tuesday, March 19

UNCSA Chamber Music Festival | Tuesday, March 19 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Watson Hall, UNC School of the Arts, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem | $15-$20 | Hear guest artists pianist Pavel Nersessian, cellist Robert deMaine, and alumna and violinist Delphine Skene play alongside faculty and students.
Water Treatment Plant Tour | Tuesday, March 19 | 5:30 p.m. | PW Swann Water Treatment Plant, 2800 River Ridge Rd., Pfafftown | Free | See how staff ensures drinking water is safely delivered to homes and businesses during a 90-minute tour of the facility.

Wednesday, March 20

Collaboration and Teamwork | Wednesday, March 20 | 6-8 p.m. | Goler CDC/TechCareers, 889 N. Liberty St., Winston-Salem | Free | Learn strategies and techniques to master the art of multitasking.
Overview of Forecasted City Projects Outreach Event | Wednesday, March 20 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Forsyth County Central Library, 600 W. 5th St., Winston-Salem | Free | Representatives from City Departments will discuss upcoming city capital projects planned through 2024.

Thursday, March 21

“Warmth” Gallery Show Reception | Thursday, March 21 | 6-8 p.m. | Artworks Gallery, 564 Trade St., Winston-Salem | Free | Works from photographer Julian Silverman and collage artist Elliot Strunk explore where comfort can be found.

Friday, March 22

Romance Reception with Rosie Danan | Friday, March 22 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Bookmarks, 634 W. 4th St., Ste. 110 , Winston-Salem | $10 | Meet the author, get your books signed, and enjoy a glass of wine during this meet-and-greet event.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Number

$700,000. That’s how much federal funding Winston-Salem’s Behavioral Evaluation and Response (BEAR) Team will receive to expand the program. The money will be used to hire four additional crisis counselors stationed at fire departments around the city.

Talk

Calling adult residents in zip codes 27101, 27105, and 27107. You’re invited to hear the feedback Healthy Forsyth received during the Community Conversations listening sessions in November. The free event is Wednesday, April 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Second New Bethel Baptist Church on New Walkertown Road.

Concert

The 2024 indoor Concert Series at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds returns Saturday, May 24 and will feature a lineup of country and R+B artists through Aug. 17. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 22 at 10 a.m.

Outdoors

Start saving your paper towel and toilet paper rolls. Drop your donations in the bin at Gateway Nature Preserve’s pollinator garden April 5 through April 7 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Families will use them to make bird feeders during the Piedmont Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 20.

Theater

The final auditions for The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem’s production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” will be held tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 419 N. Spruce St. Prepare a pop song from the 1950s, 60s, or 70s, bring the sheet music + jazz shoes (if you have them) and get ready to show off your stage presence.

Try This

Get the tea about reading tea leaves. Learn about the ancient oral tradition of tasseomancy in a free class on Saturday, March 23. You’ll practice reading your own cup from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Southside Branch Library (3185 Buchanan St.) — registration is required.

Open

The new birth center at Novant Health Kernersville Medical Center is now open. Expecting mothers can put their mind at ease knowing the new center offers comfortable birthing suites, breastfeeding services, maternity classes, advanced newborn care, and so much more. See the full list of maternity services.*

Announced

Different names, same vibes

Two buildings at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds will be renamed

People in the stands looking down at a stage. Graduates in red caps and gowns are seated facing the stage. Black curtains are behind the stage.

Officials stress that events like graduations will continue to be held in the Fairgrounds Arena.
| Photo courtesy of the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

Pay close attention the next time you attend an event at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. The names of two buildings are being changed.

The Fairgrounds Annex, also known as the Annex Ice Rink, will become the Fairgrounds Arena. It’s been open since 1989 — Wake Forest University bought the property from the city in 2013. The Carolina Thunderbirds will continue to host home games in the building.

The Fairgrounds Education Building will be renamed the Fairgrounds Event Center. The building opened in 1992 to house competitive entry exhibits for the fair. It now hosts expos + events like the annual HanesBrands Community Products Sale.

The buildings host a combined ~100 events each year with more than 500,000 guests. City officials pushed for renaming the buildings to better reflect their year-round uses. They also say it will make it easier to secure naming rights for the buildings in the future. The Public Assembly Facilities Commission voted in favor of the changes yesterday.

The Buy

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambridge

From the editor

Today marks the first day of spring. I welcomed the new season this weekend by picking my own tulips at Jones Strawberry Farm. Seeing the vibrant colors on my kitchen table each day is a reminder of growth and beauty that’s ahead.

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