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Austin Stephens of Dirt Work Outfitters preps the site of a new handicap accessible sidewalk that will connect a playground area at Pauls Valley Terrace apartments to the existing sidewalks near the apartment units. Photo courtesy of Amber Odom-Sullivan
When Amber Odom-Sullivan was recently faced with the prospect of having to remove a swing set and basketball goal from the local apartment complex she manages because they were not handicap accessible, she balked.
“I did not want to take them out,” Odom-Sullivan said, noting the property, which is in a relatively remote location just off Royal Oaks Road, currently serves 29 children who utilize the playground equipment most days. “They come here after school, and they’re just here. They only have this to hang out and play on and that’s all they do.”
As an affordable housing provider, the property is required to meet certain regulations set out by United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development programs, including complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Odom-Sullivan said when she took over management of the Pauls Valley Terrace apartments in September there were things that had been neglected and needed to be fixed or addressed to bring the property back into compliance with Rural Development.
Some of the units needed renovation, the parking lot needed to be restriped, and the lack of an ADA compliant sidewalk between the apartment units and the adjacent basketball court and swing set area needed to be addressed.
With a large list of necessary projects and a tight budget, Odom-Sullivan said the property owner, Green Development, was forced to prioritize the list of projects.
“All of the needs were important, but some of the projects were more of a priority, so that’s where the money was delegated,” Odom-Sullivan said.
With no funds available for a new sidewalk, the company directed Odom-Sullivan to remove the basketball goal and swing set, to ensure the property could pass compliance inspections.
But she had a better idea.
After living in the Pauls Valley area for more than 20 years, Odom-Sullivan had faith in the generosity of her community.
“I have seen this community show up and show out, time and time again,” Odom-Sullivan said. “So, I was like, ‘Can you give me some time to work on it. I truly think I can get this done. I know if I just ask, somebody will do something.’” So, with the company’s blessing and support, she set out to find another solution.
Her next Rural Development inspection date was set for Dec. 29, so time was short. She took to social media, posting the need to two different Facebook groups, as well as her own account, and asking anyone with resources, suggestions or recommendations to contact her.
“It had over 150 shares,” Odom-Sullivan said. “I was so thankful people were really trying to get the word out.”
Within just a few hours, everything needed to complete the project came together.
L.A. Jacobson, Inc. offered to donate the concrete, and David Herrera of Strong Arm Construction and Austin Stephens of Dirt Works Outfitter volunteered their labor to do the dirt work and build the sidewalk.
Even once the immediate need was taken care of, Odom-Sullivan said her post has continued generate interest.
“A lot of people from our local community have reached out to offer help, but I’ve also had people from as far away as Kansas and Texas reaching out to ask what they can do to help,” Odom-Sullivan said.
She has received everything from suggestions of where to find additional resources to offers to volunteer time.
“I’ve even had people who have no connection to anything, willing to come out here and rake leaves,” Odom-Sullivan said. “I mean, everybody volunteered something or were suggesting resources for something. It was just amaz-ing.”
She said all the suggestions and offers have provided inspiration and a jumping- off point for future projects she would like to bring to the property, including adding to the playground area.
“In the future we are looking into getting brand new playground equipment for them. I would definitely like to see some monkey bars or a jungle gym or something that is for that older elementary-age group that gives them more to do out here,” Odom-Sullivan said.