BROWSE our programs and REGISTER ONLINE 

Download our Current Activity Brochure

Our indoor recreation facilities and administrative building remain closed to the public until further notice, including facility rentals by outside groups. The only people allowed inside of our indoor facilities at this time are staff members, program participants and users with swim and climbing wall reservations.

1. Online Registration 24/7: Those who have a WebTrac Account may register any time at www.chapelhillparks.org.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, or Amex (full payment is required for online registration, except for day camps).

If you're a new customer that wishes to register online Click here to create a new account. Complete the information and submit. We’ll confirm your residency and reply, typically within a few hours (for after hour and weekend requests, we’ll reply the next business day).

If you have an existing account but have forgotten your password, Click Here. A reminder email will be sent to the email address associated with the account. Please do not create a duplicate account.

2. Drop Box or Mail-in Registration: Complete a registration form and mail it with payment to Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation, 200 Plant Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Make checks payable to Town of Chapel Hill. If it’s more convenient, drop it in the mail slot at the same address.

For questions, you may email us at parksrec@townofchapelhill.org or at one of the numbers below.

(919) 968-2790, Chapel Hill Community Center
(919) 968-2794. Hargraves Community Center
(919) 968-2784, Administrative Office   

Registration Forms

• General Registration Form
• Formulario de registro de Parques y Recreació

Seasonal Programming Calendar

** Some Fall Athletic Leagues Registrations Begin in Summer

BROWSE our current programs and REGISTER ONLINE

Camp Registration Information

Our Camp Registration Information web page has answers to many if not all your Frequently Asked Questions, (both in English and en Espanol),

This page will help you get all the information and forms you need to get registered on time.

A full selection of full day camps, and other themed half day camps will be listed for your convenience. 

Manage my account for Online Registration

Recreation Program Registration 

• General Registration Form
• Formulario de registro de Parques y Recreació

Summer Camp Registration

• Camp Registration Form
• Forma Recreación campamento
• Day Camp Parent Packet
• Campamento Verano - Informacion Padres

Financial Assistance Application

• Financial Assistance Application
• Solicitud de Asistencia Financiera

Resident/Non-resident Policy

Residents are persons living in, or owning property in Orange County or Chapel Hill city limits.  Persons living outside of Chapel Hill and Orange County are non-residents.

Residents receive registration priority for the first two weeks of each new registration period (mid-January, mid-April and early September).  Non-residents cannot register for programs until the two-week residency priority registration has passed.  Non-residents may register by mail or in person beginning the third week of the new registration period.  We reserve the right to require proof of residency.

Financial Assistance Application

Financial Assistance Policy and Application – The Town of Chapel Hill is committed to making its Parks & Recreation Department programs, activities, and special events available to as many citizens as possible. The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department offers financial assistance to qualified residents. Find out more and print an application.

Orange County Adult Soccer League Foundation (OCASL) is a local nonprofit whose mission is to improve the lives of children and adults in Orange County North Carolina and increase participation in organized sports and recreation. The OCASL Foundation can work directly with you as an individual hoping to play an organized sport, or as a parent/guardian, helping to make it possible for a child to play. Find out more and complete an application.

The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is proud to announce a $5,000,000 Sports Matter grant to Every Kid Sports, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, to provide income restricted families financial assistance to cover player registration fees and help ensure every kid in your community has a chance to play in your league next season. Registration is open now and is first come first serve. See our website for eligibility requirements.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

If you have registered for a program and there are not enough participants to hold the class, you will be notified of the cancellation by phone or email.  We typically notify participants of a cancelled class 3 days prior to the first meeting.

Sometimes weather is a factor in programming.  Please call our Program and Athletic Hotline for weather and other last-minute cancellations:
919-685-8277.

A refund or credit of registration fees, less a $10.00 processing fee (per each class, pass or facility reservation which is cancelled), will be made if the participant requests a refund, in writing, according to the guidelines below:

Our Refunds and Cancellations Policy is available for review online.

Fees

 We accept cash, checks (make checks payable to the Town of Chapel Hill), money orders and MasterCard/Visa.  You may also register and pay with MasterCard/Visa by using our online registration portal.

• Minimum and Form of Payment information
• Cancelation and refund policy
• Fee schedule

General Information for Facility Rentals

Many of our facilities are available for rent when they are not in use for our programs. To rent a facility, you will need to complete a rental application and pay the appropriate fee.

For details, please access our Facility Rental Information Page

Fees schedules and Admission passes

Everyone needs the opportunity for self-enrichment, adventure, fellowship and quiet reflection. At Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department, we understand these needs and are dedicated to providing cultural and recreational opportunities in a safe and inviting environment.

Fee Schedule – Here you’ll find our listing of admission and pass fees, and rental fees.

User Fee Policy - Review our full policy and procedures.

Facility Rentals Information - Many of our facilities are available for rent when they are not in use for our programs. To rent a facility, you will need to complete a rental application and pay the appropriate fee.

Community and Neighborhood Parks

The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains over 730 acres of public spaces. Our beautiful parks system, recreational facilities, and greenway and trails system, and outdoor plazas provide a perfect opportunity for our citizens to come and play together!

As a general rule, our Community and neighborhood parks operate from Dawn to Dusk, with the exception of the the following parks that operate from dawn to 10 p.m. (Chapel Hill Community Center park, Hargaves Center park, Homestead Park and Cedar Falls Park).

Use our Parks web page to locate each of our parks and see the amenities located inside each park. 

Use the Orange County Park Locator below to access a map of all our parks in Orange County. Each location will include a web link back to our parks web pages, listing all the facilities and amenities available at that location. Enjoy!

Volunteer with Us ... Make a Difference! 

We rely on a strong volunteer base to provide programs, activities and services to the residents and visitors of Chapel Hill. Some activities are regular and on-going while others are one-time events where you can volunteer for a few hours. 

Some volunteer positions may require an interview and/or a background check. Volunteers who wish to drive are required to have background and driving history checks.

We provide orientation, training, and recognition. We accept volunteers ages 14 years and above depending on the activity. A volunteer application is not a guarantee of placement in a volunteer task or position unless you have confirmation of acceptance by a Parks & Recreation staff person. 

Holiday Operating hours and closings for Parks and Recreation 

The Plant Road administrative office will be closed Thurs and Friday Nov 23-24, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Dec. 25-27, and Mon. Jan 1.

For all other recreation facilities, please click here to see our holiday schedule.

GIVING & VOLUNTEERS

There are many ways to make a difference at Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation. From our new ParC Catalog, to Sponsorships to our Friends of Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation and Greenways organization. 

You might also consider volunteering with our department or Adopting a Park or Greenway. 

Consider offering your time and resources to some of these programs and events that help make Chapel Hill and better place to  work, live and play. 

The Town of Chapel Hill Ordinance Sec. 6-24. - Transfer of purchased rights.

The purchaser of interment or burial rights or privileges may not transfer the same. The town will refund, without interest, any sum paid for interment privilege if requested to do so in writing by the purchaser thereof prior to the opening of a grave in the grave space purchased and upon surrender by the purchaser of the interment or burial privilege certificate issued for such grave space. Upon the death of the holder of a burial or interment privilege certificate, his or her heirs, legatees or devisees, shall succeed to his rights in said certificates. The owner of a burial or interment privilege certificate may permit interment in the grave space or spaces therein described of any person designated in writing by the certificate owner, provided no compensation for such interment is received by the certificate owner and provided the interment is made in compliance with the provisions of the master map or plan and the detail map hereinbefore referred to.

Please contact Debra Lane at 919-968-2738, dlane@townofchapelhill.org. between 8:00 am - 4: 30 pm M - F and Saturday  8: 30 am - 10 am. if you need further assistance.

The downtown staff is responsible for the following streets being kept clean and free of debris, as well as parking lots and parking decks:

• Franklin St. (Henderson to Merritt Mill) 
  Rosemary (Henderson to Merritt Mill) 
  
• The following streets from Franklin to Rosemary: 
  Henderson, Columbia, Church, and Graham
  

The timing and scope of park improvements vary based on priorities established in the Parks Master Plan and available funding. Please contact Kevin Robinson (Senior Manager of Planning & Park Operations) at (919) 969-5104, krobinson@townofchapelhill.org  

Mowing is performed during the months of April – October.

Yes, a property owner may apply a pesticide, but only on their property. 

Pruning and removal are done by certified staff in accordance with professional standards to reduce risk to the whole public. 
The Arborist staff performs pruning to correct problems, reduce structural stress or improve the potential health of individual trees. If you have questions or need to voice concerns please contact the Arborist staff Kiler Hamilton, 919-969-5152, or email khamilton@townofchapelhill.org.

• If a tree is a hazard to the public (leaning, broken or fallen) you will need to call 911 first. After contacting 911 and during the hours of 6 am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday, please contact the Arborist staff Kiler Hamilton, 919-969-5152, or email  khamilton@townofchapelhill.org or Tanner Thompson, 919-969-5153, or email tthompson2@townofchapelhill.org. When calling the Town’s Arborist staff please try and provide the following details: location, a diameter of the tree trunk, leaf or needle style tree and why it is a hazard. 
• If the hazard has occurred after these hours, 911 will contact the on-call crew to handle the issue. 
• If a tree has damaged any power lines or is close / touching a power line please call and report this to Duke Energy as well.

If the tree is located on town property, please call or email the Arborist staff Kiler Hamilton , 919-969-5152, or email khamilton@townofchapelhill.org or Tanner Thompson, Park Maintenance Superintendent, 919-969-5153,  or email tthompson2@townofchapelhill.org.

If the tree is located on a piece of neighboring private property, please contact the property owner. The town does not get involved with private property matters. 

One of three ways:

1. If you have access to your property survey plat and are able to locate your property boundaries, you should be able to identify ownership this way.
2. If you are unable to locate your plat, you can start by using the town’s interactive GIS maps (https://townofchapelhill.maps.arcgis.com/home/index.html) or by using Orange County’s interactive GIS maps (https://gis.orangecountync.gov:8443/orangencgis/default.htm).
3. If you are unable to identify ownership via options 1 or 2, you can contact the Arborist staff to help identify ownership. To contact the Arborist staff please call or email Kiler Hamilton 919-969-5152, khamilton@townofchapelhill.org or Tanner Thompson, Park Maintenance Superintendent, 919-969-5153, or email tthompson2@townofchapelhill.org.

A growing part of our community outreach is to meet with citizens. We can make arrangements for meeting with communities and HMOs to discuss policies, share concerns, and address problems. We also will meet groups (GSA, BSA, YMCA, and schools) who are looking for unique opportunities in education and information. 

The town maintains the trees located within town parks, town facilities and public housing communities. The town also maintains the trees located in the rights of way, along with town maintained streets. The town works in conjunction with NC DOT along state-maintained roads, Duke Energy and OWASA along their easements as well as the University of North Carolina along abutting properties. 

The operational hours for the Parks Maintenance Division are 6am-3: 30 pm, Monday – Friday. For emergencies, please contact 911.