The Duck Town Park is a premier community recreational facility located in the heart of Duck. This 11-acre gem is designed for residents and visitors alike to partake in the natural beauty of its maritime forest, willow swamp, soundside views, and open green space.

Park amenities include:

• soundside boardwalk;
• amphitheater;
• public kayak/canoe launch;
• picnic shelter;
• playground;
• gazebo;
• water fountains, including a special one for our canine friends;
• walking trails throughout the park;
• summer events for everyone to enjoy; and
• an annual Jazz Festival on the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend.

Please enjoy our park responsibly. We do have some rules. The park is designed to be a passive recreational facility, so please be courteous and aware of others and follow all the rules. The rules are posted at the entrances to the park in the kiosks for your convenience. For a complete set of rules, click here. For the ordinance enacting these rules, please go to our ordinances page.

Some items to remember:

• The trails throughout the park are for pedestrians only. If you have your bicycle with you, please leave it at at one of the bicycle racks provided throughout the park or walk it as you are on the trails within the park.
• Please dispose of all trash, including cigarettes and pet waste, in the appropriate receptacles.
• The kayak/canoe launch should only be used for this purpose. It is not to be used to enter the Currituck Sound for any other purpose or to dock any motorized vehicles.

Some facts about our town park:

• The Duck Town Park consists of approximately 11 acres of soundfront property.  The first parcel was purchased in the fall of 2003 for $4.5 million from Food Lion.  Food Lion had purchased the property to construct a grocery store.  The second parcel was purchased in the summer of 2006 from the Herron Family for $1.25 million.

• There are four distinct vegetative communities located in the Town Park property.  These are the maritime deciduous forest, the maritime evergreen forest, the willow swamp, and the marsh. 
• The maritime deciduous forest is located in the southern portion of the park property on the high ground and is dominated by pignut hickory, southern red oak, Darlington oak, and sweet gum trees. 
• The maritime evergreen forest is located just north of the maritime deciduous forest and is differentiated by the presence of significant live oak trees.  Together, these maritime forests represent a rare and endangered plant community found only on the eastern North Carolina seacoast. 
• The willow swamp is located on the northern portion of the Town Park property between the Currituck Sound and the northern parking area and bluestone trails. It is dominated by large Carolina willow and red maple trees. 
• Marsh communities are found along the soundside of the Town Park property where conditions are favorable.    

• The Town Park was designed by the Municipal Property Master Plan Study Committee, a citizen committee comprised of seven Town of Duck property owners after receiving public comments at public meetings and through surveys.  A second committee, the Municipal Property Master Plan Advisory Committee, comprised of four property owners, advises the Town Council and staff on the implementation of the plan.

• The Municipal Property Master Plan consists of four phases. Phases I and II have been completed and include the construction of the soundside boardwalk and canoe/kayak launch, the northern drive entrance and parking area, crushed blue stone trails, picnic shelter, gazebo/stage, and playground.    Phase III consists of the construction of a 100-150 seat amphitheater which was completed in September 2009.  Phase IV consists of the construction of Town municipal offices and community meeting space with construction slated to begin in late fall 2010.  All structures within the park are designed to preserve Duck’s coastal village atmosphere and blend in with the park’s natural environment.

• Phase I and II of the Municipal Property Master Plan were completed at a combined cost of $1,137,033.  59% of this total, or $669,350 was derived from grant funds ($444,350 from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and $225,000 from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau). 

• The boardwalk cost $479,849 to construct.  It is a total of 1,823 linear feet (0.35 miles) in length; 1,016 linear feet (0.19 miles) long north to south; and 498 linear feet (0.09 miles) east to west.  The willow swamp trail is 309 linear feet (0.06 miles) in length.  The boardwalk is ten feet wide and is held up by approximately 393 pilings that are embedded eight feet into the ground.  The boardwalk is approximately six feet above the normal high water level of the Currituck Sound.

• The amphitheater cost just under $250,000 to construct ($125,000 of which was from a grant from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau). It was completed ahead of schedule and a grand opening event was held on Friday, September 18, 2009. Its was constructed to blend in with the natural environment and provide a venue for professional stage productions for the Town.

• The northern drive entrance and parking area is constructed using the Gravelpave2 product.  This product is 100% pervious and aesthetically pleasing, yet durable enough to withstand constant use by motor vehicles.  In addition, bikes, wheelchairs, and baby carriages can easily move on the surface.  (Note: pervious means that water can flow directly through the surface and into the ground.)

• The trails throughout the park are constructed from crushed bluestone, a pervious surface that also meets accessibility standards.  There are 1,699 linear feet (0.32 miles) of crushed bluestone trails in the park.

• The picnic shelter measures 768 square feet in area.  The gazebo/stage is 841 square feet in area (the open area is 609 square feet and the storage area is 232 square feet in area).  Both structures are characterized by cedar shake roofs and concrete floors.  The gazebo stage also has cedar shake siding.

• The playground is designed for use by children ages 5-12 and is highlighted by a climbing wall, slide, and the xcelerator, a ride sure to stir your child’s soul.

• The park has twenty-one benches, fifteen trash cans, five picnic tables, three bike racks, and three dogipots.  There is currently one water fountain, complete with a dog-friendly unit, located in the park near the playground.