Winter Haven, Florida Print
Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
10/12/2015
Lead Agency: Lake Silver Recreation Center (Senior Center)
Senior/Community Center
Action Plan Download
Winter Haven developed its action plan through a grassroots and community-driven process, partnering with Polk State College. The plan represents input from a variety of demographic groups, industry professionals, and age-friendly committee members. This action plan focuses on housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, and enhancing communication and information across these domains. Winter Haven's effort is also focused on activating interns from the private and public sectors as a means of expanding interest and knowledge of aging issues in the region.
Action Plan Highlights
Housing
Focus on aging in place and keeping residents in their existing neighborhoods by promoting grant programs for home modifications, identifying incentive programs for developers, such as grants and waivers for impact feees, utilites and infrastructure, and locating new affordable and accessible housing units that are centrally located.Outdoor Spaces
Focus on facilities for older adults by renovating the existing senior center to be ADA compliant, adding older adult playground equipment, shuffleboard and pickleball courts to existing parks, conducting an age-friendly facility audit of public buildings and spaces, and incorporating age-friendly design features into new facility, renovation, and public works projects.Transportation
Prioritize pedestrian safety for older adults by assessing crosswalks for accessiblity and safety, implementing bicycle lanes and trails, creating an inventory of community-wide transit and transportation options for older adults, and increasing transportation providers for people with disabilities and older adults.