The cities designing playgrounds for the elderly

It is not uncommon for senior citizens to face mobility issues, but a clinic in Guanacaste is working to "boost mobility for senior citizens and, along with it, their independence and safety." The program, which attendees eventually graduate from, places individuals of similar ability in groups where they work on mobility techniques with a physical therapist while also socializing with their peers.

Slightly more than eighteen percent of the Dutch population is sixty-five or older and with this aging demographic comes new challenges. To combat the very serious risks that living alone and aging poses to seniors, the Netherlands has seen the rise of a new class: one that teaches elderly people how to fall.

Mutual Housing California opened Lavender Courtyard, a 53-unit affordable housing complex, with the goal of providing a welcoming and safe place for LGBTQ+ seniors who often face discrimination. Approximately half of the tenants are LGBTQ+, and residents say the project has given them a place to find community and feel safe being themselves.

Park Rx America is an online platform that helps the growing number of medical professionals who write nature prescriptions for their patients. The database contains thousands of parks and public lands, which prescribers can filter by activity, distance from a patient's home, and other amenities like whether there is a playground for kids. Growing numbers of doctors are prescribing outdoor activities as a treatment for conditions like obesity and anxiety. Writing out actual prescriptions with specific directions about where to go, what to do, and how often to go increases the likelihood of success.

Studies have routinely shown that spending time outdoors is good for health, so programs are being implemented in the United States in order to increase children's access to getting outside. From California's Outdoor Outreach which aims to help low-income students to the Every Kid Outdoors Act initiated by Congress which eliminates fees for national park passes for fourth graders, these initiatives not only get kids outside, but also teach them social skills.

Senior centers often offer activities for senior citizens to choose from, but most of the options aren't centered around physical activity or fostering community. Men's Sheds, Australian concept that has recently caught on in the United States, combats this issue by bringing men together to work on projects "shoulder to shoulder, from building furniture to volunteering at community events."

Even though natural parks are in close proximity to New York City’s metropolitan hub, many are inaccessible and overlooked areas for recreation and sport. Conservation groups, including the Natural Areas Conservancy and the Bronx River Alliance, have worked to restore trails, offer tour opportunities, and protect parks' natural geography, benefitting millions of New Yorkers’ mental and physical health.

Obesity is at an all-time high in the United States, and is hard to combat. But urban obesity can be countered with inviting streets to stroll, dramatic staircases to climb, parks to exercise in - it’s called “active design.”

Cycling Without Age addresses social isolation among elderly people through a volunteer-run program using electric three-wheeled bicycles with two front seats, so elders can enjoy a ride without the physical toll. Founded in Copenhagen in 2012, the program has expanded to 3,600+ chapters across 41 countries with 50,000 volunteers.

Soar Experiences, a New York-based nonprofit, provides free guided outdoor tours for people with limited mobility using Trackchairs, rugged, battery-powered all-terrain wheelchairs that can traverse hiking trails. The program has recently expanded to 15 public hikes across New York and Connecticut, helping people living with disabilities connect with both nature and each other.