On sunny Saturday, September 16th, we joined our stewardship partners at Chestnut Park in Turner Station to host a Community Cookout. Hitting the weather sweet spot of sun, breeze, low humidity, and mid-seventies temperatures, it was an excellent day to spend time with neighbors in local open green space. We and our stewardship partners were delighted with the turnout as community members of all ages joined in the festivities!

After a few words from our stewardship partner Edie Brooks and Executive Director Phyllis Joris, and a prayer led by Reverend Don Jones, attendees spread throughout the park. Community members served up fresh hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, and cole slaw. Kids played giant jenga and painted animal masks and pumpkins, while the adults played cornhole and checkers and chatted with their neighbors. Three attendees even got lucky and won a raffle prize of golden mums. Laughter and music filled the air, and a community came together to enjoy the outdoors and each other. It was a beautiful day and reminded us here at NeighborSpace why we do what we do.

Thank you to our stewardship partners, to all of the community members who helped make this cookout happen, and to all of the folks who took time out to join us at Chestnut Park. And thank you to our supporters here at NeighborSpace. We hope to be able to host more events like this in the future and we cannot do it without you.

If you could not make it to Chestnut Park earlier in September, we have another event coming up this Saturday, September 30th – Fall Fest at Powhatan Park in Woodlawn. We hope to see you there!