Winston-Salem Expands Recreation Center Hours

The city will extend evening and weekend hours at eight recreation centers after council declined to extend the youth curfew.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Youth

Bold vector editorial illustration of a brick community recreation building with a glowing doorway beside an open basketball court under mature trees at dusk. — Winston-Salem will extend evening and weekend hours at eight recreation centers after the City Council declined to extend the youth curfew. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your city expand youth recreation hours instead of enforcing teen curfews?

Winston-Salem announced an updated plan to expand operating hours at eight recreation centers. The expansion follows a City Council vote in October against extending the youth curfew adopted earlier this year.

Why it matters

The expanded hours give young residents more access to structured recreation during evenings and weekends. City leaders say the expansion will also help them connect with participants and assess community interests.

The General Government Committee approved a motion to extend operating hours and programming in October, backed by $70,000 for staffing, facilities, and programming. The source does not state the exact added hours at each location or the start date for the new schedule.

The players

Winston-Salem City Council

The elected legislative body of Winston-Salem, which voted in October against extending the youth curfew adopted earlier this year.

Winston-Salem General Government Committee

The city committee that approved the motion to extend recreation center operating hours and programming in October.

The details

The expansion covers Polo Park, Carl Russell Park, William C. Sims, Sr. Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Miller Park, Rupert Bell Park, Hanes Hosiery Park, and William R. Anderson Jr. Park. The Teen Zone program is intended to provide increased access to safe, structured, and engaging recreational activities.

October: General Government Committee approves extended hours motion; City Council votes against extending the youth curfew.
Earlier this year: Winston-Salem youth curfew is adopted.
November 3, 2026: City announces expanded recreation center hours.

Culture Shift

The council's rejection of the Winston-Salem youth curfew in favor of expanded recreation center hours reflects a turn from restrictive youth policy toward supervised, programmed alternatives. The shift places the city's evening and weekend recreation offerings at the center of its approach to youth activity.

Winston-Salem families gain access to evening and weekend programming at eight city recreation centers. Residents can expect structured activities as an alternative to the curfew that council declined to extend.

The takeaway

Expanded recreation hours offer young residents supervised options during evenings and weekends. Families interested in the Teen Zone program can ask their local recreation center about available activities.