May 6, 2019

Community Housing Partners (CHP), a Virginia-based nonprofit affordable housing provider, gave residents at four apartment communities in Yorktown, Virginia, an opportunity to celebrate the installation of a new playground and fitness areas.

The Foundations of Health Celebration took place on May 2 and included a food- and fun-filled set of activities for all ages. Residents from four CHP apartment communities—Rivermeade Apartments I & II and Yorktown Square I & II—participated in the event.

The celebration featured four stations with activities for residents around four themes: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Homes, Healthy Earth, and Healthy Minds. Activities included a food demonstration, yoga, painting, and a youth scavenger hunt. Residents who visited all four stations also had a chance to win raffle prizes.

In December, CHP received a $45,000 grant from the Williamsburg Health Foundation to replace aged playgrounds at four CHP properties in York County. The grant allowed CHP to build a new fitness area for youth and adults at Rivermeade Apartments I & II and updated play areas at Yorktown Square Apartments I & II.

The new equipment emphasizes increased activity within communities and has been designed as a fitness-inspired playground for children and an outdoor fitness course for adults of all ages and abilities. A recreational area with a grill and picnic benches encourages community bonding. Construction of the new equipment was completed in May.

CHP also received $7,300 from Virginia Community Development Corporation’s Vern Henley Special Initiatives Grant for an expression swing at Yorktown Square I. The swing promotes intergenerational play as adults and children swing together.

During the celebration, representatives from the Williamsburg Health Foundation had an opportunity to tour the new equipment and meet with residents. The foundation awarded more than $1 million in December to invest in the health of individuals and communities in the greater Williamsburg area. In 2017, CHP also received a $5,000 foundation grant for a mobile food pantry in York County.

CHP received donations and in-kind support from RediCarpet, HD Supply, Lowes, Ferguson, and Trane for the May 2 celebration.