Ah, October! The dog days of summer are behind us, and everything is all pumpkin spicy. The air is crisp, and we reminisce about the good old days when we would jump into a pile of freshly raked leaves and be able to get up again, unscathed. It is a wonderful time to take a stroll or a roll through one of Dubuque’s parks. Or is it?
Krista Iverson often takes her grandmother to a park for lunch after grandma’s hairdresser appointments. “We like going to Eagle Point Park, but the only wheelchair-accessible tables are in the pavilions, which are often reserved. We love going to A.Y. McDonald Park because I can wheel her down to the Point, but we can’t eat lunch there because there are no accessible tables, so we just sit on the benches and eat ice cream.” Iverson adds, “A lot of the Arboretum is great for wheelchairs, but none of the picnic tables are.”
Colleen Lawson, Nutrition Aging Specialist of the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging says there are several reasons seniors do not spend time in the parks. She points out there are “not enough benches for them to take breaks, or they are too far apart; uneven sidewalks are falling hazards; gravel or lime walking paths are a falling/tripping hazard; there are not enough shaded areas; too far between bathrooms, or bathrooms are unsatisfactory for the elderly.”
As discouraging as this might be, there is good news on the horizon. In February 2026, Dubuque’s City Council approved the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan. All 694 pages of it. It is basically an “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Dubuque Parks and How We Are Going to Fix Them” manual. There are chapters on our parks, recreation, trails and connectivity, open spaces and natural resources, community needs, and the implementation plan. A large part of the Plan is based on a survey done in 2025 called Y(OUR) STORY. Perhaps you were one of the 35,000 people who filled out a survey.
Of particular interest to senior citizens is the Master Plan’s recommendation that “the City conduct a comprehensive Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance review; this effort would involve inspecting existing facilities, performing self-evaluations and updating the transition plan necessary to adhere to ADA standards and regulations for accessible parks and facilities…. Most Dubuque’s parks do not meet ADA compliance standards and requirements. Lack of paved circulation routes throughout parks, amenities on steep hillsides without stairs or easy access, and inaccessible seating were frequently noted.”
Accessibility is a real issue and not just for seniors. Parents trying to push strollers around in parks, as well as people of all ages with disabilities can be affected. Keep in mind that this Master Plan covers the next 10 years and the hundreds of improvements to be made are divided into short-term (1-3 years), mid-term (4-6 years), and long-term (7-10 years) on the timeline.
ADA improvements mostly fall in the mid-term range. However, Park & Recreation Director Matt Kalcevich said that although doing a full ADA assessment is not on the immediate agenda, “as we make repairs and updates to the parks, we are making sure that these improvements are ADA compliant.”
Dubuque has over 50 parks, all of which need improvement in one way or another. So, one of the first things to get checked off the to-do list was the creation of a Friends of Dubuque Parks and Recreation group, “to assist in advocacy, volunteer coordination, and fundraising.” Dubuque City Councilman Laura Roussell has stepped up to chair Friends of Dubuque Parks (FODP). “This organization is about working with others to make a positive difference for our community. We strive to increase awareness of the many beautiful parks in our community so people can take full advantage of this great opportunity. Through volunteer engagement, we work to enhance the capabilities of our city and the parks and recreation staff.” Adds Roussell, “I love meeting new volunteers at every event. They are always enthusiastic, hard-working people that want to make a difference. It is a great way to make new friends.”
Roussell gathered a committee of interested citizens to form a board, including marketing strategist Colleen McKenna, Founder and Head of Marketing Strategy and Content Creation at Lock Eleven, who serves as Vice-Chair of FODP. Explains McKenna,
Activities of the Friends of Dubuque Parks so far have included cleaning up Eagle Point Park pre-July 3rd fireworks, post-RAGBRAI cleanup at A. Y. McDonald Park, and hosting information booths at National Night Out and Dubuque Farmers’ Market. They even wrote personal thank you notes to the full-time Parks and Recreation staff and distributed them during Park & Rec Appreciation month of July. Another Eagle Point Park cleanup is scheduled for the end of August. Future projects include helping with fundraising for projects and raising awareness to get more people helping with things for which the city does not have the resources.
Now no doubt there is a Gloomy Gus reading this and wondering why we need volunteers to do this work when we all pay our taxes for others to do it for us. McKenna is quick to point out that Dubuque parks cover 1,200 acres with only 43 full-time employees (FTE), which equals 28 acres per staff member. “That’s 21 football fields each. I don’t know about anyone else, but I have a hard enough time taking care of my little yard. That’s insane to expect city staff to maintain everything perfectly,” comments McKenna.
One way to be part of the solution is to join the Friends of Dubuque Parks group, attend a meeting, volunteer to help at an event. As McKenna points out, “Our ultimate goal is to help execute the city’s bold vision and maximize the incredible potential of Dubuque’s parks. From physical health and mental well-being to flood protection and local business growth, parks give us so much back. We want to partner with the city to speed up those positive enhancements so every neighborhood benefits.”
Now go get some fresh air and enjoy our Dubuque Parks!
Tracey Rush spent her childhood getting fresh air, playing in the dirt, and practicing her viola. She is now a Master Gardener, a music teacher, composer, conductor, and the Secretary of the Friends of Dubuque Parks. She can be reached at iowamusic@aol.com.
This article was originally published in CHOICES For Fifty Plus, a Dubuque area magazine for people that are 50 and older. Single copies are available at Dubuque area newsstands or click here to read the digital version of the latest issue.
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