Athol, Massachusetts Print

Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
5/6/2021

Lead Agency: Franklin County and North Quabbin Regional Age-Friendly Coalition

Regional Planning Organization/Metropolitan Planning Organization/Council on Government

Action Plan Download

An action plan is based on the results of community surveys identifying needs within the 8 Domains of Livability that influence the health and quality of life of older adults. While there is flexibility in how a plan is created and what it will do, every action plan includes a statement about what can be achieved, target dates for goal completion, identification of participating organizations and indicators to measure progress. The action plan is an "active" rather than static document. Revisions and amendments are a sign of program improvement and progress.

Action Plan Highlights

  1. Outdoor Spaces

    Improve accessibility of parks and public facilities by conducting ADA compliance audits and incorporating age-friendly elements in parks and recreation plans.

  2. Transportation

    Increase residents' knowledge of local transportation options through transit training programs. Expand volunteer driver availability.

  3. Housing

    Support creation of age-friendly housing units and living arrangements, including homesharing. Offer home safety and home repair assistance to enable aging in place.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

City of Greenfield (2020)

Greenfield, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: The City of Greenfield removed 250-square-feet of asphalt from a downtown parking lot, converting it to a pocket park -- a space for people instead of cars. The Fiske Avenue Pocket Park features benches, a chess table, a bike repair station, a pollinator garden and a quirky bee sculpture. Project organizers say the new, centrally located green space supportz a central goal of the city's Sustainable Master Plan: to create a vibrant, walkable downtown. Additionally, removing the asphalt supported efforts to mitigate stormwater runoff. The project's success also helped the City secure a 200,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation.

Southwest Region Planning Commission (2024)

Keene, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions

Description: This project will launch an accessory dwelling unit design competition focused on older adults' housing needs. The competition asks participants to consider specific locations in the community.

ABOUT THE AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

Launched in 2017, the annual AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to local governments and nonprofits in order to fund quick-action, ready-to-implement projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages.

See all nearby projects

LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED

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AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP Massachusetts State Office

One Beacon Street
Suite 2301
Boston, MA 02108
United States

Phone: 866-448-3621
Fax: 617-723-4224
Email: [email protected]