Anchorage Park fix-it brings neighbors together.

• Position: COMMUNITY

Until late this summer, one neighborhood park in Anchorage offered open, natural spaces but few amenities. The Anchorage Park Foundation requested funds from the Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska State Legislature for $200,000 in upgrades, including play equipment for neighborhood children.

The new playground at Stephenson Park has a nature theme, with a tree-house feel to the play equipment nestled in a park full of trees. Play equipment also includes an ADA-standard "Oodle" swing that fits several swingers at once and a log balance beam.

The rest of the park also got a makeover, including a new ADA accessible path, new picnic area and tables, fresh paint, and thinned brush for increased visibility and safety. A grant from the Arbor Day Foundation paid for ten chokecherry trees that volunteers planted.

Neighborhood families gathered to celebrate and volunteer their time to help expand improvements on a Saturday...