The City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks Department is proposing expanded operating hours at select recreation centers to increase evening and weekend recreational opportunities for teenagers through its new Teen Zone program. The expanded hours for Teen Zones are proposed to take effect on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2026.
The proposed changes would provide additional access to supervised recreational activities for youth ages 12 to 17, including rising seventh graders through current high school seniors.
All Teen Zone participants would be required to register for the program and follow the established code of conduct.
The extended hours for the recreation centers listed below are intended to provide additional opportunities for teens to participate in supervised recreational programming outside of traditional after-school hours.
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Current Saturday hours at community centers
Current Saturday hours at Polo Park, Hanes Hosiery, Miller Park, and William R. Anderson recreation centers are not Teen Zone-specific sites. These locations are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Hanes Hosiery Community Center, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
- Miller Park Community Center, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
- William R. Anderson Jr. Community Center, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays
Proposed Teen Zone-only locations
- Carl Russell Community Center, Fridays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- William C. Sims, Sr. Community Center, Fridays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturdays, 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Martin L. King Jr. Community Center, Fridays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturdays, 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Rupert Bell Neighborhood Center, Fridays, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Saturdays, 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
In addition to expanded operating hours, Recreation and Parks plans to introduce rotating teen-focused programming beginning in January 2027. Specialized programs and activities would be offered one to two times per week at recreation centers throughout the city, extending Teen Zone opportunities to neighborhoods that do not currently have dedicated sites.
"Expanding Teen Zone hours and programming are an important step in creating more opportunities for young people to connect, grow, and thrive in a safe and welcoming environment," said Recreation and Parks Director, William Royston. "By increasing access to recreational activities during evenings and weekends, we can better serve teens throughout our community while building a stronger foundation for future youth programming."
Department staff said the rotating programming model would allow staff to engage teenagers in additional communities while introducing a variety of recreational experiences.
It also would provide opportunities for the city's Youth Violence Prevention Manager, Bryce Sherman, to connect with participants, assess community interests, and evaluate program effectiveness to help guide future programming, locations, and resource needs.
City Council has approved $70,000 to cover staffing, facility expenses, and programming needs.
For more information about Teen Zone and other Recreation and Parks programs, visit Recreation & Parks | City of Winston-Salem, NC or contact the Recreation and Parks Department at 336-734-1219.
Complete list of weekend locations and hours:
