#81 - Durham Recreation & Park Deptartment - Barry Kirshner Wildlife Foundation

Durham - 6 miles south of Chico
Durham Recreation & Park Deptartment
9447 Midway
www.drpd.durhamca.com
530-345-1921

Barry Kirshner Wildlife Foundation
Laura Lane, behind Durham Park
www.kirshner.org
530-345-1700, Open by appt. only

If you've done all you care to do in Chico and are headed out of town, we suggest that you head south about six miles to Durham.

From mid-February to mid-March, it's a lovely drive because of the almond orchards in bloom, and Blossom Tour maps/brochures are available at the Chamber office in Chico (3rd & Salem).

What's more, you'll discover a small town with a great deal of charm and civic pride, and one that is known for its high-achieving schools.

You'll find three beautiful parks-the Louis Edwards Community Park has tennis courts and also contains the Dwight Brinson Swim Center with its much-used pool. The largest park is the Durham Community Park that includes a playground, ballfields, basketball court, and equestrian ring. Many large events are held in this venue including the Harvest Festival each September and a Spring Festival each May. Midway Park is where you'll find soccer and ballfields.

You can also see endangered exotic live animals in Durham. The Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation was established to promote an awareness of wildlife and their habitats. You'll see a bobcat, a mountain lion, leopards, tigers, lions, a serval, a caracal, an ocelot, as well as foxes, a wallaby, and an assortment of exotic birds and reptiles, including a Burmese Python.