Kaboom Playgrounds at Crescent Park and Stonebridge

EAH Housing is always looking for ways to give back and create a sense of community. Very recently, at both Crescent Park and Stonebridge, two affordable multifamily communities, volunteers came together to do just that by building beautiful playgrounds for young residents.

Through two KaBOOM! grants sponsored by neighborhood partner Kaiser Permanente, two groups of 200 volunteers each took five hours on given Saturdays in August and November to put together playgrounds for the low-income-friendly homes. The KaBOOM! playground replaced both of the properties’ old ones, and the children of Stonebridge and Crescent Park helped in creating the designs themselves, making the event even more special.

Some local “celebrities” who wanted to pitch in came and helped celebrate the occasion, such as the mayor and vice mayor of St. Helena, Alan Galbraith and Peter White, respectively, at the Stonebridge build, and mayor and vice mayor of Richmond, Tom Butts and Melvin Willis, at the Crescent Park build. Children ages fifteen and younger, too young to volunteer, enjoyed a nearby activity and play area, and they thanked all of the volunteer adults by making thank-you cards and banners to share their gratitude for the long day of hard work.

The park-like playgrounds also include some fitness equipment for adults, too, so parents can watch their children safely having fun while being physically active on the exercise equipment themselves. There are places the whole family can enjoy together, which is exactly what the outdoor common spaces are meant to do: bring people together.

Stonebridge was completed in August 2018, and Crescent Park more recently this past November. Already, both playgrounds are seeing a great deal of use from ecstatic children who are once more able to run and play in a local, fun environment. All volunteers agree that the experience was incredibly rewarding, and being able to see the project come to fruition is one memory that they will never forget.

Originally posted at EAHHousingBlog.wordpress.com