Local officials cut the ribbon Monday to officially open Maplewood Square Apartments

Durham, NC - Collaboration between Duke, the City of Durham and local community groups has transformed a neighborhood in Durham's West End.

In November 2009, volunteers from Duke and a variety of organizations built the Maplewood Park playground; shortly afterwards, the first 10 residents moved into Maplewood Square Apartments, the low-cost, energy-efficient, senior housing overlooking the playground.

Today the apartments are fully occupied, with a lengthy waiting list, and the playground bustles with local children.

That success was made official Monday at a ceremony involving representatives from each of the development's partner organizations.

Duke University joined forces with the City of Durham, Fifth Third Bank, and the N.C. Housing Finance Agency to fund the apartments. Duke University and Duke Chapel also joined Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Way of the Greater Triangle, Harry L. and Helen M. Rust Charitable Foundation, Lowe's, Make Kids Smile Inc., the Durham County Open Space and Trails Commission, the Mary Biddle Duke Foundation, O.C. Mitchell, and PlayWorld Systems Inc. in contributing funds and volunteers to build the playground, which sits within view of the senior apartment building's covered porches.

Maplewood Square Apartments and Maplewood Park are a direct result of conversations that began almost a decade ago as part of Duke University's Southwest Central Durham Quality of Life Project (QOL).

The QOL Housing Committee sought to identify the needs and goals of the six neighborhoods represented by QOL, and priorities for the West End included re-building a crumbling neighborhood park and expanding the supply of affordable, energy-efficient homes for the community's seniors and retirees.

"We are pleased that with initial financial support of $500,000 from Duke University, this incredible team of partners, in response to the inspiration and guidance of the Quality of Life Project, joined forces in an exemplary collaborative effort to build these homes and this playground in the heart of the West End," said Phail Wynn Jr., Duke vice president for Durham and Regional Affairs, during the ceremony.