Carmel Rotary volunteers to prep Home Place Gardens playground

More than a dozen volunteers from the Carmel Rotary Club are expected to spend their Saturday morning finishing up playground installation at HAND’s new Home Place Gardens affordable rental community in Carmel.

Volunteers will begin spreading playground mulch on the site at 9 a.m. Oct. 20. A crew from Recreation Unlimited in Noblesville began assembling commercial-grade play equipment there this week.

Once the necessary safety surfacing is in place, the playground will open for Home Place Gardens residents and their guests to enjoy. The play project was funded with grants from Carmel Rotary, 100+ Women Who Care of Hamilton County and Meyer Najem Construction.

Home Place Gardens is HAND’s seventh affordable rental community in Hamilton County and the first to include housing for families with children. Constructed on 2.4 acres south of 106th Street between College Avenue and the Monon Greenway, Home Place Gardens has a total of 10 rental units for seniors and families.

The $2.6 million project was funded with loans and grants from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority, Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, Hamilton County, Prevail Inc., Crosser Family Foundation and Woodforest National Bank.

About HAND: Founded as Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development in 2003, HAND owns seven affordable rental communities throughout Hamilton County, leasing a total of 106 units to low-income individuals and families. This year, it acquired 17 duplexes in Lebanon, extending its reach to nearby Boone County. Its mission is to be a leader in promoting prosperity and diversity in its communities by providing quality housing opportunities.