In observance of Juneteenth this year, Durham city officials have announced service changes that will impact various city departments and facilities on Thursday, June 19. According to an alert published on the City of Durham's official website, nearly all non-emergency municipal offices and operations, including City Hall, will be shuttered for the day.
Residents will need to adjust for a shift in curbside solid waste collections, as crews will not be operating on the holiday. The Solid Waste Management Department is set to temporarily halt its services on June 19, which means curbside trash and recycling pickup will be pushed back by one business day. The same delay applies to Friday's yard waste, which will now be collected on June 23. Waste disposal sites, including the Household Hazardous Waste Center, will also close on the holiday, the City of Durham has indicated.
While the Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) administrative office and the majority of facilities will lock up for Juneteenth, outdoor spaces like parks, pools, and athletic courts will remain accessible. The city's alert states that facilities with prior reservations will uphold their commitment and stay open. For further details about DPR's schedule and offerings, the public can reach out to the department at 919-560-4355 during office hours or by navigating to the City of Durham's website.
The Park Durham Customer Service Center is also joining the list of closures on June 19. Nevertheless, those driving to downtown Durham might find some solace in knowing that parking will be free at on-street spaces, in select city-owned garages, and surface lots due to the holiday. Those attending special events, however, should be ready to check the Special Event Parking Calendar, as the city will begin to levy a flat $7 rate at the Durham Centre Garage 90 minutes before those events start.
Public transportation services will also operate on a reduced level, with GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS running on a Sunday schedule. For the most current specifics on transit service, patrons are encouraged to call 919-485-RIDE (7433), download the Transit App, or follow the service on their specified communication channels.
Furthermore, Durham One Call will shut down on Juneteenth as well, although residents can still submit service requests online, through the application, by texting 919-813-6315, or leaving a voicemail at 919-560-1200. Requests will then be processed the next business day. In the case of water and sewer emergencies, these can be reported to the Water Management Department's after-hours number at 919-560-4344, with crews on standby to respond.
