Oasis to host groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday

[June 13, 2016]  LINCOLN - On Thursday morning at 10 a.m. the public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony at the Oasis Senior Center, 2810 Woodlawn Road in Lincoln. The ceremony will be held in the gravel and grassy area located behind or on the north side of the building. Last week, the Oasis announced that it would be constructing a walking track that will be made available to not only the seniors of Logan County but also to the public.

The design work for the path was done by Prairie Engineers of Illinois, with the construction to be done by Professional Pavement Maintenance. Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 20th with an expectation that the track will be completed by the early part of July.

Last week Oasis Director Dom Dalpoas talked about why the Oasis is building a walking track. He said that it is always the goal of the Oasis to improve the quality of life for Logan County seniors.

In his role of director, Dalpoas says he receives reports and data from several senior agencies locally, on the state level, and on the federal level. Included in all this information there have been research reports on what seniors want in order to have quality of life.

In the top three, seniors wish for opportunities to travel, for ongoing educational opportunities, and they want to work toward living a healthy lifestyle. Dalpoas said that the Oasis works to help seniors achieve these goals and more.

When the Oasis purchased the building on Woodlawn, it underwent a complete interior remodel. The center offers a huge dining area where seniors have opportunities to enjoy food events, such as the monthly potluck lunches where they can share their cooking talents with others and enjoy having a meal with friends.

The building offers a large social area where tables are set up for playing cards and enjoying other sit-down activities. In the same area there is a lovely family room-like area that includes sofa and chairs and a flat screen television, where folks can sit in a relaxed atmosphere, visit and enjoy a favorite television show or sporting event.

In a separate room, the Oasis offers a computer lab, where seniors can get online and enjoy easy access to information as well as friends and family through Internet services. There is also assistance made available for those who want to learn more about how to navigate through the World Wide Web, or how to use a word document or spreadsheet. This is an activity that helps answer the call for greater educational opportunities.

In addition, the Oasis partners with the Lincoln Land Area Agency on Aging and other entities from time to time to bring special educational programs to the senior membership.

With their senior bus, Oasis members are often able to take day trips, enjoying activities such as shopping, dining, or attending a special show out of town. There are also opportunities offered through the Area Agency on Aging for seniors to participate in bus tours to popular tourist locations throughout the country. These services help answer the call for travel opportunities.

Another fine feature at the Oasis is the workout room that is fully equipped with low-impact exercise equipment, and there are volunteers who assist with training in the proper and safe use of all the equipment available.

The exercise room coupled with the new walking trail enhances the quality of life for local seniors and again, helps meet that noted goal of living a healthier lifestyle.

Dalpoas said that the Oasis is excited to be able to bring a new offering, but he stressed that the nearly one-eighth mile track will not be just for seniors. He said the track will be available to the public. He’s also hopeful that the track will bring opportunities for families to gather multiple generations for a fun and healthy activity. Dalpoas envisions a place where seniors can come out with their kids and grandkids and enjoy walking the track, spending quality time together, and sharing a common interest.

Dalpoas said that in this project, the short-term goal is to get the track built and open. In the longer term plans, he hopes to add landscaping, and benches for sitting and relaxing, creating a more park-like setting that everyone can enjoy.

The Oasis will apply for grants to assist with the full completion of the walking path plan, but Dalpoas noted grants right now are very uncertain. He’s hopeful that there will be cash awards in the future that will assist the Oasis in making the walking track a nice area that will become not only an asset for the Oasis, but also an asset for the community. And, of course, anyone who would like to support this new endeavor would be welcome to make a donation to the Oasis.

[Nila Smith]