CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) invites the public to an “Afternoon of Play” for the unveiling of the revitalized playground and basketball court at Emile Griffith Park in St. Thomas.
The community event will be held at the park on Tuesday afternoon, April 16th, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The festivities will include music, refreshments, and face painting!
Funding for the project was provided through a generous donation to CFVI from Carnival Cruise Line, who had contacted both CFVI and the USVI Department of Tourism shortly after the 2017 hurricanes to see how they could contribute to recovery efforts. Working closely with the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation (VISPR), the concept for repairing and replacing damaged facilities at Griffith Park for the benefit of the community came to life.
“Carnival Cruise Line is proud to partner with CFVI to create this playground which, like our ships, provides children and their families an opportunity to have fun and create wonderful memories together,” said Chris Chiames, Chief Communications Officer for Carnival Cruise Line. “Supporting our destination partners is an important part of our company’s culture and we’re honored to fund these types of projects that positively impact the lives of so many people.”
Thanks to this collaborative partnership, Griffith Park now has new playground surfacing; new equipment for children ages 6 months to 12 years of age (including accessible harness swings for children with physical and developmental limitations); a new gathering gazebo with picnic tables and benches; a resurfaced basketball court; and repainted walls and field dugouts.
“With five of our brands calling on the destination annually, the U.S Virgin Islands is an invaluable partner to Carnival Corporation. It is our hope that the park will be enjoyed for years to come,” expressed Marie McKenzie, Vice President of Global Ports and Caribbean Government Relations for Carnival Corporation.
“At CFVI we are so grateful to Carnival Cruise Line for their financial support and for their vision in helping the territory ‘build forward,’” shared CFVI President Dee Baecher-Brown. “The Community Foundation is committed to working with all our partners to ensure that the Virgin Islands emerges from the devastation of the storms as a stronger, more resilient USVI that provides a kinder, gentler community for all our residents and visitors. We are proud to count Carnival Cruise Line as a partner on this journey.”
For any additional information, please contact CFVI at (340) 774-6031.