Montclair, New Jersey Print

Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
2/17/2015

Lead Agency: Montclair Township Office for Aging

Government Agency

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

    Promote walkability and increase sidewalk repair services.

  2. Transportation

    Increase awareness of alternative transportation options like rideshare. short term car rental services, and senior bus services.

  3. Health and Community Services

    increase health screenings and promote health "corner stores."

Progress Report Download

Montclair's progress report shows the community's focus on housing access, on-demand transportation service and social inclusion. Residents worked to form a housing task force, which advocates for universal design, tenant protections and diverse housing options, such as missing middle housing, cohousing and accessory dwelling units. Resident voices also guide local transportation policy, with members of the Senior Bus Roundtable suggesting improvements for the township's on-demand transit service. In recent years, Montclair's local lifelong learning has doubled its course offerings, and expanded class registrations as well. To combat ageism, the community also launched its Faces of Aging program, which encourages older adults to create self portraits and reflect on what aging means to them.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Judy Weston Garden (2025)

Montclair, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Walk Audits

Description: This project will conduct walk audits near Judy Weston Garden and Edgemont Park Senior Center. Volunteers will survey sidewalks, intersections, and paths to identify ways to increase safe usage.

Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place (2023)

Montclair, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Housing Choice Design Competitions

Description: Skyrocketing housing costs and property taxes left older adults with few options to remain in their neighborhoods. To address this, Montclair Gateway launched a design competition for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), drawing 31 submissions from architecture students. Six winning designs were exhibited publicly and added to an online resource library, giving homeowners practical plans for age-friendly housing. The effort sparked local ADU applications and informed state policy discussions. "We want to keep our elders close to us at this point in our lives and in their lives," said one homeowner.

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

Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages

Visit AARP.ORG/LIVABLE
people icon

Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities

Check out the Livable Library
download icon

Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter

Subscribe now!
mail icon

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 New Jersey State Office

303 George Street
Suite 505
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
United States

Phone: 866-542-8165
Fax: 609-987-4634
Email: [email protected]