5 Great Places to Live in the United States
5 Great Places to Live in the United States
The Trust for Public Land outfitted more than 20 parks with outdoor low-impact exercise equipment. Many older residents use these fitness zones. Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin Local governments have installed more than four dozen pickleball courts. This sport, a less strenuous variation of tennis, is particularly popular among people over 50. Baltimore The health department has tracked fall-related emergency room visits in order to map, and correct, problem areas. of
Great Places to Live in the U S
Most Americans would prefer to age in place, staying in the city or town where they already live, have raised families and made friends. But our hometowns aren’t always suited for older lifestyles, structurally or socially. Many cities across the U.S. are working to change that, putting in place initiatives to make life better for older residents. The dispatched journalists to five cities that are winning acclaim for their innovative work toward , to discover what every community can learn from their efforts. This suburb has turned itself into a destination community, innovatively tackled its transportation problem and broke free from the “senior center” model for older residents. This Midwestern city is attracting older workers to good career opportunities, is changing decades-old housing policies and is making mini-communities within a metropolis. This community redeveloped an urban neighborhood to combat suburban flight, created “blue zones” to promote healthier living conditions and is helping older residents become entrepreneurs. This small city has engaged the community to identify solutions and led a push to use data analysis to solve problems. This expensive city has worked to reduce housing costs, while conducting surveys and listening sessions to assess other needs of older residents.More Great Places to Live
These communities have launched initiatives that are making life better ofStreets and Transportation
Fort Wayne, Indiana Urban planners have conceptualized how to remake streets for safety. Though not yet implemented, the design includes: 1) Single lane of one-way traffic, with street parking on both sides, 2) A wide lane for bicycles, wheelchairs and runners, separated from car traffic by a parking lane and landscaped areas 3) A traditional sidewalk for walkers. Edgewater, Maryland To help older residents cross wide streets, the community installed pedestrian islands on one four-lane street. This allows people to watch for traffic moving in one direction at a time. Bozeman, Montana Traffic engineers have experimented with painted crosswalks that have the appearance of raised surfaces. These optical illusions may cause motorists to slow down. Indianapolis A new transit center opened in 2016, providing a hub for more than two dozen bus routes to converge in one location. This hub-and-spoke system makes it easier to get around the city. Indianapolis also added its first bus rapid transit line, with dedicated traffic lanes and stops within a quarter-mile of about 50,000 residents. of PDX Commons in Portland, OregonHousing
Portland, Oregon A cohousing development called PDX Commons opened in 2017. Residents range from their mid-50s to late 70s and share common areas—living room, library, media room, craft and exercise room, and rooftop deck, plus outdoor gardens. While each condo has a full kitchen, the building also has a community kitchen and dining room for gatherings. Similar cohousing developments also exist in Washington, D.C.; St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and other communities. Portland and Beaverton, Oregon “Intentional intergenerational-living communities” reserve a certain number of apartments and townhouses for people 55 and older, while other units are earmarked for single parents and foster families. Blending these populations allows older people to find a new purpose by helping struggling families and at-risk kids. Similar facilities exist in other communities, such as Rantoul, Illinois. New Hampshire A state law passed in 2017 requires local zoning departments to allow the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). These are second buildings on a residential lot where older family members can live independently but in close proximity to a caregiver. California and Oregon have passed similar laws. Lexington, Kentucky, adopted a comprehensive plan that makes it easier for homeowners to build ADUs on their property. Albuquerque, New Mexico A program called the North Campus Community Project has matched residents with volunteers who do household chores and repairs. This has been helpful for older residents. There have been similar programs in other communities, including Houston as well as Kanawha and Putnam counties in West Virginia. Santa Cruz, California A pilot program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity builds ADUs as additions to existing houses to help homeowners age in place. The aging homeowner can either rent out the ADU for needed income or downsize into the addition and rent out the main house. Honolulu With one of the nation’s largest concentrations of residents 65 and older, city planners have emphasized affordable and accessible housing developments along a 20-mile rail corridor under construction. Easy access to public transportation is especially beneficial for older people. of From left to right, Tamara Brooks, Daniel Belgrad and Catherine Valentine exercise at AARP's FitLot Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. The FitLot is the first of the kind built by AARP in the country.Fitness
Pinellas County, FloridaThe Trust for Public Land outfitted more than 20 parks with outdoor low-impact exercise equipment. Many older residents use these fitness zones. Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin Local governments have installed more than four dozen pickleball courts. This sport, a less strenuous variation of tennis, is particularly popular among people over 50. Baltimore The health department has tracked fall-related emergency room visits in order to map, and correct, problem areas. of