Parks & Recreation

The City of High Point Parks and Recreation Park Rangers began patrol in the early 1970's.  Then, there were only two Park Rangers employed.  One worked at City Lake Park and the other at Oak Hollow Park.  The main duties of the Park Rangers were to assist citizens with fishing at the lakes and parking vehicles at special events.

During the mid 1970's, as more people visited Oak Hollow Park and City Lake Park, more Park Rangers were employed to patrol at these locations.

During the late 1970's, as High Point grew and expanded, so did the Parks and Recreation Department parks system.  During these years the Parks and Recreation Department saw a need for an organized park patrol unit to patrol all City Parks and Recreation facilities.  In 1977, High Point Parks Rangers underwent a significant structural change and became a city-wide park law enforcement unit patrolling all the City Parks and Recreation facilities.

The Park Ranger section currently staff one Chief and four patrol Rangers.  Rangers use various patrol techniques including patrol cars, mountain bikes, boats and foot patrol to maintain watch over city and community parks, recreation centers, lakes, golf courses, trail, natural preserves and playgrounds.

The High Point Park Ranger's mission is to provide security of all park visitors, enhance safety at all Parks and Recreation facilities and to protect the City's natural resources.  Duties include conspicuous, proactive patrol at more than 60 Parks and Recreation facilities, assisting park visitors, traffic and crowd control at special events, and timely response to calls for service.  For the purpose of making arrests and issuing citations for City, State or Federal law violations, all Parks Rangers are sworn law enforcement officers certified by the State of North Carolina.

The Park Rangers maintain consistent training in many topics such as criminal, motor vehicle, wildlife and boating law, firearms, defensive tactics, rescue, report writing, and various investigation practices.

High Point Park Rangers are dedicated to serve all citizens who visit our parks and our goal is to make sure everyone has a safe, pleasant and enjoyable time.  For an immediate response to emergencies, please call 911.  For non-emergency assistance, please call (336) 883-3224.  For inquiries and information about the High Point Parks and Recreation system, please call (336) 883-3469.