Christmas arrived early for families living in Wheeling Housing Authority’s Hil-Dar community. Thanks to $40,000 in funding from the James B. Chambers Memorial Foundation and $25,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the Ohio County Board of Commissioners, the renovation of Hil-Dar’s playground has been completed.
“The playground was decades old and overdue for upgrades. We are so grateful to the Chambers Foundation, including Emily Fisher and the Board of Trustees, as well as Ohio County Commissioners Randy Wharton, Zach Abraham, and Don Nickerson, for supporting this project,” said Joyce Wolen, Executive Director of the Wheeling Housing Authority.
“Children and families now have a beautiful, safe place to enjoy outdoor fun right on the property. A few additional pieces of equipment, funded by the Wheeling Housing Authority, will be added soon,” Wolen added. “We are just so grateful for this incredible support.”
The newly renovated playground features new swings, a slide, and other exciting equipment, all installed shortly after Thanksgiving. The upgrades were completed by Cunningham Recreation, specialists in housing authority playgrounds, ensuring a safe and modern space for Hil-Dar families to enjoy.
Hil-Dar, located in Elm Grove, was constructed in 1963 and is home to approximately 100 families. The community consists of townhouse-style apartments and the Exley Community Center, providing valuable gathering and recreational space for residents.
This marks the second playground renovation completed on Wheeling Housing Authority properties in 2024. Earlier this year, the James B. Chambers Memorial Foundation generously donated $24,000 to upgrade the playground in the North Wheeling community. “The Chambers Foundation funded the first playground in North Wheeling that needed refurbished after the 2018 fire that destroyed Sacred Heart Church,” explained Wolen.
That playground, originally built more than 20 years ago as part of the HOPE VI federal grant-funded housing project, is open to both the community and the public. The HOPE VI grant created new neighborhoods, replacing outdated housing and fostering a mixed-income community in North Wheeling.
“We are so blessed to have amazing funders in Ohio County. The generosity of our partners ensures that Wheeling Housing Authority families have safe, vibrant spaces to enjoy for many years to come,” added Wolen.
