Monson, Massachusetts Print

Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
5/17/2022

Lead Agency: Monson Council on Aging

Government Agency

Action Plan Download

Monson developed its action plan with support from elected officials, local planners, key foundations and a strong working group. Much of the plan draws from existing plans and reports, along with a detailed survey and focus groups. With a focus on both age-friendly and dementia-friendly policies, the plan looks to improve housing affordability and access for people of all ages and to provide transportation and wayfinding solutions that are appropriate for people of all visual, hearing and cognitive abilities.

Action Plan Highlights

  1. Housing

    Keep more older adults in their homes by developing a volunteer-based or intergenerational community service program to assist people aging in place with home upkeep and landscaping, and assisting homeowners in finding and applying for funding to rehabilitate housing to improve safety, accessibility, and basic upkeep and maintenance.

  2. Transportation

    Prioritize pedestrian safety downtown by creating and adopting a complete streets policy, and implementing other safety enhancements including traffic calming, crosswalk improvements, improving visibility of intersections by creating clear zones, and reducing the number of curb cuts, and creating more flexible parking requirements.

  3. Outdoor Spaces

    Improve outdoor spaces for older adults by enhancing the accessibility of parks and trails, creating a centrally located and accessible community garden space, and incorporating the dementia-friendly environments checklist when planning for improvements to parks, public spaces and/or public buildings.

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Nearby AARP Community Challenge Grantees

City of Greenfield

Greenfield, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public Spaces

Description: A parking lot will be transformed into a vibrant pocket park and community gathering spot in the center of the downtown area. Plans include the creation of a rain garden, a new bench at an existing bus stop, a chess table with chairs and a bike pump/repair station.

MassBike

Worcester, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Transportation

Description: Bicycling will be encouraged by pairing 20 teenaged cyclists with 20 older recipients in an ongoing program that awards free e-bike. There will also be five bicycle workshops as well as group rides.

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 grantees

Connect with your AARP State Office

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]